More to be done to prevent suicide and self harm in Shropshire

Telford & Wrekin Council has joined forces with Shropshire Council to come up with a strategy to support those in need to reduce both suicides and self-harm.

According to the new Suicide Prevention Network strategy, between 2013 and 2015, there were 50 deaths recorded as suicide in Telford and Wrekin and 81 deaths recorded as suicide in Shropshire.

In the first three months of the year 2016/17, there were 389 admissions to Shropshire and Telford's A&Es that were recorded as self-harm.

The plan involves both councils working together and raising awareness of the risk as well as access to support services.

A report compiled by Elizabeth Noakes director of public health for Telford & Wrekin and Professor Rod Thomson, director of public health for Shropshire Council, it said that the figures for Shropshire and Telford were on par with the national average.

However, it said: "this rate is still too high and we must bring it down".

The report said: "It is clear that, although our region has a suicide rate that is similar to the national average, more work needs to be done to support those people who are at risk and those who are affected by suicide.

"Suicide affects all types of people and communities and is linked to a wide variety of factors including depression, alcohol and drug misuse, unemployment, family and relationship problems, social isolation and loneliness.

"There is also growing evidence of the association between self-harm and increased risk of death by suicide, even though many people who self-harm do not intend to take their own life."

The report found that those who frequently attend hospital following self-harm are a particularly vulnerable group and are often suffering from severe depression, many of whom may not be known to social care services.

It said: "This strategy is therefore intended to be utilised alongside the wider Mental Health programmes and activities within Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire to be as far reaching as possible, to raise awareness of suicide risk, promote access to support services, including those bereaved by suicide, from a wide range of sources.

"It will also aim to provide those who have a public facing role to have confidence in signposting people affected by suicidal thoughts to the services that could best help them."

The strategy is set to be discussed in a Shropshire Council Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Thursday.

The meeting will be held at Shirehall from 9.30am.