Executive summary
Introduction
The impact of an individual dying by suicide or making an attempt to do so are far reaching. The death will profoundly impact on people in the individual’s family, community, workplace, and wider social networks. It is estimated that for every person who dies at least 10 people are directly affected.
Suicide is an important public health problem. An individual dying by suicide has far reaching social and economic impacts on families and communities. Every suicide is preventable, and it is our collective responsibility to do all that we can to reduce deaths by suicide.
The risk of suicide is not equal across society. Higher suicide rates are observed among specific population groups and communities, including men, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and more deprived people. People living in the most deprived areas of England experience almost double the rate of suicides compared to those in the least deprived areas.
What we know
The suicide rate in Lambeth between 2021-2023 was 6.6 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to 7 deaths per 100,000 in London (Fingertips, DHSC - data from 2021-2023).
The suicide rate in Lambeth is similar to its statistical neighbours.
In 2024:
- 15 suicides occurred in Lambeth
- Almost three-quarters (73%) of suicides in Lambeth occurred among males
- 80% were people of white ethnicity, 7% were of Black ethnicity and 7% Chinese, Japanese, or Southeast Asian
- Residential premises was the most common location of suicide deaths in Lambeth
There are specific risk factors for suicide which require a range of public health interventions to tackle. These include substance misuse, financial difficulty, gambling, social isolation and suicide bereavement. Poor mental health and self-harm are strong predictors of suicide.
In Lambeth, there is a high prevalence of certain risk factors for suicide, such as substance misuse and mental health problems.
What we will do
Our approach to prevention must be multi-agency and include addressing social and commercial determinants of suicide. This Strategy provides a framework for collective activities which bring together the council, primary and secondary health and care services, voluntary and third sector organisations as well as communities and individuals.
This Strategy will run from 2025 to 2030 to align with other key council strategies, including Lambeth 2030: Our Future, Our Lambeth. This expanded timescale will also allow delivery of longer-term workstreams. The public health team will update the action plan accompanying the Strategy on an annual basis.
Our key priority groups will be: children and young people; men (in particular, those aged 45-64); people in contact with mental health services; people in contact with the justice system; people with autism; birthing people and new mothers; people who have self-harmed; LGBTQ+ communities; people with disabilities; asylum seekers; people facing financial difficulty and economic adversity; people affected by gambling harms; people who are misusing substances; domestic abuse survivors.
This strategy sets out our plans to reduce the number of suicides in Lambeth to as close to zero as possible, including our Year 1 Action Plan.
Acknowledgements
With thanks to all those who have helped us develop this Suicide Prevention Strategy through signposting and contribution at consultation events. Particular thanks to members of the Lambeth Suicide Prevention Partnership Group (SPPG).