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The Coroners Service for Northern Ireland reported 290 suicides in Northern Ireland in 2024; eight in 10 of those were male and 28% were from the most deprived communities, underlining the urgent need for sustained government funding targeted at community outreach, prompt counselling, and specialist care.
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Discussed the rise in ketamine addiction among young people in Portsmouth and highlighted the story of Honor, a 23-year-old who died by suicide due to ketamine addiction. Supported the work of the H23 Foundation to fight ketamine addiction and prevent similar tragedies.
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Noted that Linking Hope hosted an upstream suicide prevention training event in Derby South, highlighting the importance of strong links between voluntary groups, charities, and the public in supporting young people.
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Expressed concern over the closure of the Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide charity and highlighted the case of a 13-year-old constituent, Ella, who died by suicide despite presenting at A&E. Supported a petition calling for mandatory suicide risk assessments in hospitals.
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Agreed with the Government urgently needing to replace Papyrus services in the mental health ecosystem.
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Discussed the rise in children waiting for mental health services, the reduction in NHS mental health funding, and the impact of VCSE grant cuts on organisations like Papyrus and Winchester Youth Counselling. Urged the Government to restore the mental health investment standard.
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Short-term funding has real-world impacts on young people, as I have had casework about people losing their only outlet for therapy when funding for their point of contact goes, throwing them back into a crisis.
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Frank McNally reported on the high suicide rates in North Lanarkshire and praised local efforts to raise awareness and provide early intervention, including a recent suicide prevention event. He called for additional support from both the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure long-term certainty for local authorities and third-sector organisations.
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We ought to learn from countries such as the Netherlands, where they have a much more integrated system to help young people with their mental health, physical health, and employment opportunities.
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Record numbers of young people are seeking help but face long waits. Papyrus, a key youth suicide prevention charity, entered administration due to rising costs and falling funding. The previous Government had a robust strategy, but the current administration has not renewed the suicide prevention grant fund and there are no comparable replacements. Charities also face increased costs due to national insurance contributions. The speaker urged the Government to restore a dedicated 24-hour helpline, review the closure of the suicide prevention grant fund, assess the impact of higher national insurance contributions on charities, and provide a timeline for the mental health strategy.
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Jack Abbott discussed the impact of youth suicide in Suffolk, mentioning 65 suicides in 2024, including 10 in Ipswich. He praised local charities for their efforts but stressed the need for Government support, welcoming the £350 million emergency mental health provision for Woodlands unit at Ipswich hospital.
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I met Papyrus through my constituent Emma Webb, who campaigns on suicide awareness among young people after losing her daughter. The fact that rising demand is cited as one of the main reasons for Papyrus' closure should tell us everything we need to know, and I join my hon. Friend in calling on the Minister to fill the gap left by HopeLine 24/7.
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Jim Shannon highlighted the severe mental health crisis affecting young people in Northern Ireland, noting a 40% increase in suicides in Ards and North Down over the last four years. He emphasised the need for early intervention and criticised the long waiting times for mental health support, urging better support systems for youth.
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On 27 September, it was five years since my constituent Jess's son Mason died by suicide. His death was one of several examined in a local safeguarding review, but it took three years of Jess chasing and pressure from my office just to see its recommendations. She has still not seen the full report, and I agree that we should install a national oversight mechanism.
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Juliet Campbell highlighted the mental health challenges faced by young people in Broxtowe, noting a doubling of new referrals to the Middle Street Resource Centre despite unchanged staffing levels. She called for additional funding to support specialist organisations.
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Highlighted the importance of early intervention in youth mental health and the need for mental health to be integrated into all aspects of school life. Recognised the work of local charities such as Aylesbury Youth Action and Action4Youth in supporting young people.
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Acknowledged the DPJ Foundation and 3 Dads Walking charity in her constituency. Highlighted the importance of 24-hour support and raised concerns over the closure of HopeLine 24/7 despite its high demand.
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The Education Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee found that the NHS and local commissioners are not taking advantage of the expertise in third sector organisations, and I agree that the Government should act on the report's recommendations.
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Paid tribute to Andy Airey, Mike Palmer, and Tim Owen for their work with 3 Dads Walking, which raised over £1.5 million for Papyrus. Noted the devastating impact of Papyrus going into administration and called for the Government to prioritise prevention and signposting in addition to treatment and intervention.
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Improving mental health services for young people is personal for him, and one of the reasons he became an MP. He was concerned about Papyrus going into administration and the impact on organisations like HopeLine. Agreed that no young person should have to wait until a critical point before receiving support, suggesting that immediate access to mental health support is crucial.
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Called for urgent action to protect vital services provided by Papyrus, which is based in her constituency, and asked the Minister to set out what action is being taken in response to concerns raised in a letter to the Secretary of State and to agree to meet to discuss these concerns.
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Expressed concern over the closure of Papyrus and its impact on other helplines. Urged the Minister to work with Papyrus's administrators to restore HopeLine 24/7. Emphasised the need to close the treatment gap and strengthen specialist services for those with complex mental health needs.
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Asked the Minister about actions to reduce children reaching crisis point and presenting at A&E, and whether the Government would consider a children's health investment standard to ensure fair funding for children's mental health.
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The Children's Commissioner has reported that more than 1 million children have active referrals to mental health services, highlighting the need to provide support not only to young people but also to parents, voluntary organisations, and charities.
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On Saturday, I attended a service of hope and remembrance for World Mental Health Day at St Peter's collegiate church in my constituency, bringing together a range of organisations dealing with suicide and highlighting the importance of a joined-up, community-based approach.