National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2002)
Suicide is a devastating event. Its emotional and practical consequences are felt by family and friends and the many statutory and voluntary agencies involved in the provision of health and social care. Although the rate of suicide in England is not high in comparison with other countries in the European Union, the figures remain disturbing. On average, a person dies every two hours in England as a result of suicide. It is the commonest cause of death in men under 35. It is the main cause of premature death in people with mental illness. The Government’s White Paper Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation sets out a challenging target to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 2010. There is no single route to achieving this target. The factors associated with suicide are many and varied – they include social circumstances, biological vulnerability, mental ill-health, life events and access to means. A coherent, co-ordinated suicide prevention strategy therefore needs the collaboration of a wide range of organisations and individuals. This document sets out a suicide prevention strategy for England. It follows a consultation document published in April. We intend it to be an evolving strategy which will develop in light of progress made and emerging evidence. Implementation will be led by the newly established National Institute for Mental Health in England which will make suicide prevention one of its core policy programmes.
National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England – Septembre 2002
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