When someone takes their own life, the impact on family and friends is devastating and widespread, with many people throughout the community feeling the aftershocks. Rebecca understand this and is proud to have supported the new National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England which aims to reduce the suicide rate in England within the next 2.5 years. 

This cross-government and cross-sector strategy sets out ambitious measures to prevent suicide in England over the next five years and outlines initial actions it will take to reduce rates of suicide and self-harm, through addressing key risk factors and supporting groups of concern.

Specifically, this strategy will focus on:

• Improving data and evidence
• Providing tailored, targeted support to groups of concern
• Addressing common risk factors linked to suicide at a population level
• Promoting online safety and responsible media content to reduce harms and improve support and signposting
• Providing effective crisis support across sectors for those who reach crisis point
• Reducing access to means and methods of suicide
• Providing effective bereavement support to those affected by suicide
• Making suicide everybody's business, including a call to action to employers and individuals

The Strategy is supported by the £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant fund we launched last month to help the voluntary sector deliver vital suicide prevention activity.

Rebecca recognises and thanks all those who successfully campaigned to raise awareness of key issues and actions that can be taken to prevent suicides, and she hope you will see those reflected in the commitments made in the strategy. The strategy will be continually reviewed and updated to ensure emerging challenges are addressed.

Since the last strategy was published in 2012, considerable progress has been made across the sector, and this includes all local areas seeing investment to develop and implement local suicide prevention plans and suicide bereavement services. Together with the existing suicide prevention strategies and plans for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Rebecca believe this will make a significant difference in reducing suicides across the UK.

You can read the strategy here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028

Rebecca said: ‘I am proud to have been a longstanding supporter of this valuable new strategy which promises to make a real difference in the lives of those struggling with their mental health. This government is committed to reducing the number of lives lost and this cross-government strategy sets out how we can do this’