Agenda item - Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2024 - 2026

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the Board approves the three-year Brighton & Hove suicide prevention action plan 2024 – 2027; and

(2) That the Board notes the three-year Sussex suicide prevention strategy 2024-2027.

24.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health presenting the city’s three-year suicide prevention action plan and the Sussex three-year suicide prevention strategy.

24.2    Every death by suicide had a devastating impact on families, friends and communities and locally there was a high level of need: the city had the highest suicide rate in the South East, and was a third higher than nationally. It was acknowledged that reducing suicide was everyone's business. Within the city a multi-agency suicide prevention steering group oversaw suicide prevention and had been instrumental in developing the new three-year local action plan. It aimed to reduce the risk of suicide, provide better support for people who self-harm and provide better support for those bereaved by suicide. This action plan was presented for approval by the Board.

24.3    Local partners also worked on suicide prevention at Sussex level where there are benefits to doing so and a new three-year Sussex suicide prevention strategy had been approved in September 2023 by the Sussex Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Programme Board. This strategy was also included for noting by the Board.

24.4    Councillor West welcomed the work that had been carried out commenting on the devastating impact this had on families and highlighted wider issues under the Boards remit and he hoped that could be taken forward. The Executive Director, Adult Health and Social Care concurred, stating however that this was a very sensitive area of work. It was therefore very important that great care was taken in addressing these issues.

24.5    Councillor Burden, whilst recognising the scale of the problem stated was pleased to note that there had been some progress towards prevention.

24.6    The Director of Public Health stated that one of the key messages had been the importance of training to recognise and address issues highlighted. Training would be rolled out a across the city over the next few years.

24.7    Councillor Hogan stated that as a consultant psychiatrist one of her roles involved work with Sussex Partnership NHS Trust and in that capacity she was able to give reassurance that suicide prevention was actively being worked towards in partnership across the board.

24.8    Joanna Martindale stated that a grant application had been put forward by the voluntary sector for a significant sum in order to provide for voluntary sector staff and volunteers with focused training. It was hoped that this would be successful.

24.9-   RESOLVED – (1) That the Board approves the three-year Brighton & Hove suicide prevention action plan 2024 – 2027; and

(2) That the Board notes the three-year Sussex suicide prevention strategy 2024-2027.