Suicide (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

A review of suicide prevention strategies (Mann, J & Currier, D (2011), Evidence-based practice in suicidology: A source book, pp67 - 68) found the important areas to focus on are: education & awareness, screening, treatment, restricting access to means and media reporting of suicide. This review supports the approach outlined in the section on Strategic Priorities.

Frontline services

• Enable people to get support for worries; debt advice, welfare rights, employment advice, relationship breakdown, bereavement etc.
• Offer support and advice to keep physically and mentally active and maintain friendships so as to cope better with stress (e.g. 'five ways to wellbeing')

Education & awareness of individuals, staff and the community e.g.

• Improve mental health literacy, encourage discussion about mental health, and provide information about depression and services especially in 'male settings', or create specific interventions targeted at men such as 'Men's Sheds'
• Ensure frontline staff are suicide aware; offer training such as Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and Skills based training on risk management (STORM) or Mental Health First Aid
• Sign up to campaigns that challenge mental health stigma such as Time to Change, and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

Primary care clinicians ask patients about thoughts of self harm or suicide where appropriate

• This would seem particularly important in South Tyneside, as outlined earlier a high % of those completing suicide had diagnosed depression.

Active and prompt treatment of mental health conditions e.g.

• Good access to primary mental health care
• Cognitive behavioural therapy for people experiencing suicidal thoughts
• 24 hour mental health crisis services
• Continued care for people who repeatedly self-harm
• Work with pharmacies to support good medicines management
• Safer prison cells and high quality assessment, care in custody and teamwork for prisoners at risk of self harm

Restrict access to means e.g.

• Structural intervention & signage, particularly at hot spots
• Limit availability of methods in prison cells and mental health hospitals (e.g. removing ligature points, reducing absconding from wards)

Following a suicide

• Conduct a multidisciplinary review
• Offer help and support for people bereaved by suicide

Ensure responsible media reporting of suicide - Samaritans Media Guidance

Postvention Postvention is defined as "activities developed by, with, or for suicide survivors, in order to facilitate recovery after suicide, and to prevent adverse outcomes including suicidal behaviour". Postvention policies and support need to be in place to reduce the likelihood of additional suicides or further suicidal behaviour.