Policy context
There are numerous suicide prevention strategies and related activities at a national, regional and local level. The Lambeth strategy has been developed to align with and complement these programmes.
National policy context
In 2023, the government published its Suicide Prevention Strategy For England 2023-2028. The aim of this cross-government strategy is to bring NHS, local government, the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sectors, employers and individuals together around common priorities and set out actions that can be taken to:
- reduce the suicide rate over the next 5 years – with initial reductions observed within half this time or sooner
- improve support for people who have self-harmed
- improve support for people bereaved by suicide
The national strategy focuses on the need for targeted preventative action for those at higher risk of suicide. The strategy identifies priority high risk groups and common suicide risk factors which can be targeted through early intervention and tailored support. It also focuses on the need to tackle the means and methods of suicide, including plans to update guidance for effective local responses to cluster suicide incidents.
A multi-agency suicide prevention programme was implemented as part of the NHS’s Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, which committed to extending this programme across the country. The NHS’s Long Term Plan, published in 2019, also identified suicide prevention as a priority for the sector. This includes expanding services and mental health support.
Regional policy context
Within London, suicide prevention has been identified as an important issue for citywide action. A priority of the 2019 London Health and Care Vision is to improve mental health and progress towards zero suicides.
The Mayor of London launched the Zero Suicide London Campaign in 2019. This campaign sought to encourage Londoners to access free, online suicide prevention training. In the five years since its launch, the campaign has supported over 400,000 Londoners in accessing the training.
The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) are currently engaging with a collaborative including the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) and NHS England in relation to suicide prevention.
Local context
There are a number of local strategies and plans which consider suicide prevention and/or address suicide risk factors.
Lambeth’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2028 has three priorities, one of which is supporting people to lead healthy lives and have good physical and mental wellbeing. Within this priority, the suicide prevention strategy will form part of the activities seeking to achieve the outcome of ensuring people at risk of and with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues access the right early help and resources.
The Lambeth 2030 Borough Plan puts a spotlight on inequalities in the borough and equity is woven throughout the plan. The plan also prioritises several areas which are risk factors for suicide, including reducing deprivation and supporting LGBTQ+ communities and disabled resident.
The Lambeth Together Health and Care Plan 2023 - 2028: This plan sets out how health and care services in Lambeth will work together, and with residents and communities, to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people of all ages and from all our communities, over the next five years. The plan responds to the priorities, developed by residents and communities, set out in the Lambeth Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Lambeth Borough Plan, and is aligned with the South East London Integrated Care System’s (ICS) Strategic Priorities. Lambeth Together have developed the plan from the intelligence presented in the Lambeth Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the learned experience of our partners and the lived experience of residents from across our diverse communities.
Lambeth’s 2022-2025 Suicide Prevention Strategy adopted the seven priority areas for action identified in the national strategy. Combining this with the results of local evidence and stakeholder engagement, the strategy identified nine high-risk groups for targeted action. Delivery against each of the strategy’s objectives is set out in Appendix 1.
Other complementary workstreams
There are various complementary workstreams, strategies and plans in place which should be considered when addressing suicide prevention in Lambeth. Examples of these include the Cost of Living Crisis Response Plan, the 2024-2027 Lambeth All Age Autism Strategy, the Lambeth Carer’s Strategy 2024-2029. There are many programmes which are focussed on key risk factors of suicide mentioned above. The Lambeth Suicide Prevention Strategy will consider these strategies and programmes to ensure an integrated and holistic approach, particularly focusing on high-risk groups like the LGBTQ+ community, the homeless, and those affected by perinatal mental health challenges.