York’s Health and Wellbeing board are to discuss a suicide prevention strategy for the city when they next meet on May 9th..
The strategy identifies the aim for York to have an immediate and progressive reduction in the number of local suicides, by addressing the risks and triggers that would potentially result in suicide.
It aims to improve levels of community support and social cohesion, evoking a desire from people to help and be more open with each other, whether it is they or someone else who is struggling.
Board members will be asked to agree on a 12 week public consultation for the draft strategy.
Key objectives for the strategy include:
- Reducing rates of self-harm and the risk of suicides in high-risk groups.
- Providing more thorough support for those affected by suicide.
- Raising awareness and training.
The draft strategy follows an audit of suicides in 2016, which declared the number of suicides in York above national and regional averages. The audit has influenced this draft, and informed later measures like the creation of a suicide prevention task force.
Councillor Paul Doughty, Conservative spokesperson for health and adult social care, said: “Suicide is a tragic loss of life which, with support, can be avoided. It can have a long lasting effect on family and close friends. Since our suicide audit in 2016 we’ve implemented a number of measures, working with our partners to try and prevent residents from reaching the level of despair or of mental unwellness where suicide is considered an option. .
“However as a city we can do more and this strategy sets out how we can all work together and make a huge difference.”