Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Suicide Prevention

Tuesday 17 October 2023 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Last month, the Government published a cross-Government five-year suicide prevention strategy with over 100 measures to reduce suicide rates in England.
  • The Minister acknowledged the hard work of Paul Howell and his wife in mental health campaigning and recognized the importance of local funding for suicide-safer communities.
  • The Minister stated that over 1,800 applications were received for the suicide prevention grant and that an announcement regarding successful organizations is expected before the end of the year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Scott Benton
Mental Health
Context

The MP is concerned about steps to prevent suicide.

Question

What steps he is taking to help prevent suicide?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

Last month, we published a cross-Government five-year suicide prevention strategy. It sets out our pledge to reduce England's suicide rates within two and a half years, with over 100 measures aimed at saving lives and providing early intervention for those at highest risk of suicide, including new mums and middle-aged men.

Answered
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Q2 Paul Howell
Mental Health
Context

The MP highlights the efforts of campaigns such as “One Million Lives” and asks for funding renewal.

Question

Could I ask the Minister to support the “One Million Lives” campaign, and to push for the renewal of local funding to support suicide-safer communities?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I thank my hon. Friend for his hard work in this area and for his mental health campaigning overall, and also his wife and all who selflessly give their time to volunteer with the invaluable mental health charities. We fully recognise that, and that is why when we launched the suicide prevention strategy we also launched our £10 million suicide prevention grant fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Renewal of local funding for suicide-safer communities beyond 2024-25 was not addressed specifically.

How: Subject To A Future Spending Review

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Q3 Scott Benton
Mental Health
Context

The MP asks for an update on the suicide prevention grant and expected funding reach.

Question

Is the Minister able to provide an update on the suicide prevention grant, and particularly on when the money is expected to reach the successful organisations?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

We have had a huge response to the opening of the grant, with over 1,800 applications from voluntary groups and organisations. We are assessing those bids and hope to make an announcement before the end of the year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Exact timeline for distribution was not provided.

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Q4 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Mental Health
Context

The MP inquires about meetings with campaigns such as 3 Dads Walking and Just 3 Mums Walking.

Question

Has the Minister had time to meet with either of those campaigns yet?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I have met with 3 Dads Walking; I have not met the mums group but am very happy to do so. Because of their intervention and campaigning, we were able to successfully put their campaign about improving mental health awareness in the school curriculum into our suicide prevention strategy.

Answered
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Q5 Rosena Allin-Khan Lab Tooting
Mental Health
Context

The MP discusses the lack of progress on mental health and suicide prevention reforms.

Question

Will the Minister today commit to including reform of the Mental Health Act in the King's Speech?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I was going to pay tribute to the hon. Lady for her work on mental health campaigning, and she will know we have done a huge amount. The suicide prevention strategy is a cross-Government piece of work, which makes sure suicide is everyone's business, not just that of health and social care.

Not addressed: Commitment to include reform in the King's Speech was not made.

How: Pay Tribute, Huge Amount

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Q6 Abena Oppong-Asare Lab Erith and Thamesmead
Mental Health
Context

The MP challenges the Government on suicide prevention strategy timing and reforms.

Question

Why has it taken so long for the Government to bring forward a strategy, and why do they continue to drag their feet over reform to the Mental Health Act? Can the Minister give the House a firm timetable today?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

The hon. Lady is not quite right in her statistics. Just before covid we had seen a 20% reduction compared with two decades ago in suicide levels in England. She might be interested to know that in Labour-run Wales suicide rates are higher than in England, and its suicide prevention strategy expired last year.

Not addressed: Providing reasons for delay or reform timetable was not addressed.

How: Not Quite Right In Her Statistics, Labour-Run Wales

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