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The Department of Health has launched a new cross-government strategy ‘Preventing suicide in England‘ on World Suicide Prevention Day. The new strategy has been informed by a consultation on the draft suicide prevention strategyin 2011 and TASC was involved in the important consultation process.

Some of TASC’s core members are trust and memorial funds which raise money to put towards projects tackling suicide and depression. Therefore if an important project or organisation requires funding these members will consider whether they are able to help.

For example: The Survivors of Bereavement By Suicide (SOBS) is an almost entirely volunteer run organisation which supports those who have been bereaved by suicide.

The coroners’ service in England and Wales, which oversees the investigation of sudden, unexpected, violent or unnatural deaths including suicides, is currently undergoing its first process of major reform in over 100 years with a new legislative framework and the appointment of a new post of Chief Coroner, Judge Peter Thornton QC on 17 September 2012.

In July 2011, following a successful cross-organisation meeting at Guildford, the Guildford Consensus was published aimed at collecting together the current thinking about reducing suicide rates in the UK.

The group responsible for discussing priorities for the implementation of optimal strategies for the training of professionals remarked that there was an absence of training pertaining to suicide prevention.

The level of research into the causes of suicide and suicidal behavior is extremely low compared to many physical illnesses. As an example, research into the causes and treatments for cancer is c. 40 times greater than for anxiety, depression, mental illness and suicide.

Supported by a grant from the Department of Health, the Call to Action consists of over 50 national organisations from across England, committed to working together so fewer lives are lost to suicide and people bereaved or affected by suicide receive the right support.

The Guildford Consensus Statement on Optimal Suicide Prevention Strategies emerged after a multi-party conference which took place on July 20th 2012. To read it in detail click here.

Some of the suggestions made in the Consensus Statement are being taken forward by Call to Action and the new National Suicide Prevention Strategy.