Government Action on Suicide Prevention

At a Speaker's House reception, it was noted that two thirds of people who commit suicide have never sought mental health support. I asked about the consequences and suggested we need a holistic approach to offer necessary support. Dan Carden highlighted the higher rates of suicide and mental health issues among LGBT+ individuals, noting that gay people are between two and ten times more likely to take their own life compared to straight people. He stressed the importance of counselling and therapy in overcoming trauma and shame related to sexuality or gender identity. Discussing alcohol's role in exacerbating suicidal thoughts, he pointed out that nearly half of mental health service patients who die by suicide have a history of alcohol misuse, leading to about 600 deaths annually on average. He called for a national review of alcohol harm and invited the Minister and Opposition spokesperson to visit Paul's Place, which offers bereavement support to families affected by suicide.

Jim Shannon highlighted the need for improved mental health services and addressed the rise in suicide rates, particularly among young men and children. He noted an increase from one registered suicide in 2015 to a shocking 100 in 2019 in Northern Ireland, with data indicating higher male suicides compared to other regions of the UK. Shannon also expressed concern about social media's impact on mental health and the importance of providing accessible support post-pandemic.

Commended the hon. Member for Bristol East's work on data collection and advocated for services addressing mental health gaps; highlighted Men's Sheds developments in Scotland to reduce loneliness and isolation among men; stressed that addiction diagnoses should not hinder access to mental health services; emphasized the importance of listening to families and providing adequate training for frontline staff.

Ms Liz Twist highlighted the high suicide rates in England, particularly among middle-aged men and in deprived areas. She called for renewed ringfenced funding for suicide prevention services beyond 2023-24 to sustain local collaboration. Additionally, she emphasised the need for early intervention through statutory services and voluntary sector initiatives for middle-aged men at risk of suicide.

Mr Shah highlighted the challenges in accessing mental health services, noting that suicide rates among men aged 10 or over in Bradford increased from 2016 to 2019. He mentioned a significant disparity in waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services between poorer areas like Bradford and wealthier regions.

In 2017, my constituent Jack Ritchie took his life at the age of 24 due to gambling addiction. I highlighted that there are more than 400 gambling-related suicides each year, accounting for almost 8% of all suicides.

I wonder whether the Minister will address gambling-related harm. This is a complex issue, requiring cross-departmental co-operation to find a solution. There is an imminent opportunity coming up with a White Paper on gambling reform due within weeks.

Thanked hon. Members for their contributions and acknowledged the impact of suicide on individuals, noting that four decades after Ian Curtis's death, significant work remains to tackle high suicide rates. Highlighted the lack of progress in meeting commitments such as reducing suicide rates by 10% and achieving a zero-suicide ambition for mental health patients.

Paid tribute to the debate's initiator and highlighted the case of Tom Pirie, a constituent who took his own life after being assessed as low risk by his counsellor. Raised concerns about current suicide risk assessment procedures and their poor predictive value, citing statistics such as 5 daily suicides among those in touch with mental health services and 4 of them assessed as at low or no risk.