Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

This report presents a refreshed Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019-22 for Stockport, and an annual Action Plan for the year 2020. 

The Board is asked to endorse the new Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan.

Officer contact: Judith Strobl, 0161 474 2535, judith.strobl@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the Board’s endorsement of the new Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan.

Board members welcomed the Strategy and the Action Plan as a document that linked everyone including the CCG Crisis response and the success of a multi-agency approach for suicide prevention in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and everyone involved in producing the Strategy and Action Plan be thanked.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The Suicide Prevention Action Plan brings together work by the Council and its partners and covers 1) local leadership and governance for suicide prevention, 2) evidence-base for action, 3) mental health and wellness promotion and resilience building, 4) addressing areas of high frequency, and reduce access to means, 5) suicide prevention awareness, 6) Training of professionals as well as community members, 7) suicide intervention & and post-intervention services, 8) addressing self-harm, 9) focussed work in clinical and support services (mental health, primary care, voluntary and community sector), and 10) support for those bereaved by suicide.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Judith Strobl on 0161 474 2535 or email: judith.strobl@stockport.gov.uk

The Director for Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting a refreshed Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019-22 for Stockport, and an annual Action Plan for the year 2020, which took account of current guidance and national and Greater Manchester strategies, as well as local intelligence. The proposed three year strategy complemented, and was aligned to, the Greater Manchester Suicide Prevention Strategy 2017-22.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• Members complimented the quality of the work in the strategy and the multi-agency approach adopted.
• In terms of factors associated with observed suicides, the strategy commented that several factors may have been present in any individual person. A number of the factors were inter-related. The factors present did not necessarily mean that a death was caused by these factors.
• Concern was expressed that people who presented themselves at Accident and Emergency Departments after attempted suicides may be treated less favourably by medical professionals, particularly more junior staff.
• Concern was expressed at the number of suicides of children between the age of 10-19.
• It was pointed out that those who were self-employed did not have access to courses on mental health which were offered by a number of large organisations.
• Concern was expressed that the Stockport three year rate for suicide deaths between 2012-2015 was higher than the north west three year rate over the same period.
• Public education on the issue of suicide needed to be improved so that a debate could be had which informed and educated people rather than information people may gleam from the mainstream media.
•  The work of the Suicide Bereavement Service and the SOBS groups (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) was much appreciated.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan be supported prior to its presentation to the Health and Wellbeing Board on 29 January 2020.

(2) That a progress report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in twelve/eighteen months’ time updating Members on progress with it,