World Suicide Prevention Day | News

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. The focus this year is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’, and communities are encouraged to start the conversation to reduce stigma. We want to reaffirm our commitment to reducing suicide and promote mental wellbeing across London.

As a partnership of the nine NHS mental health trusts in London, CSG stands united in its mission to tackle the root causes of mental ill health and to ensure that every Londoner has access to compassionate, timely, and effective support. Suicide prevention is a core part of this mission.

The NHS and partners in London have set out their vision of how people across the Capital can access mental health care and support as part of their 10-year mental health strategy.

The London Mental Health Strategy puts prevention at the heart of London’s mental health system with the vision to enable communities to live well by providing a clear and consistent service offer across the London footprint

Vanessa Ford is the Chief Executive at South West London St. George’s Mental Health Trust, and the Senior Responsible Owner for the London Mental Health Strategy, published this May.

She said: “Too many lives are lost to suicide that could have been saved with timely, compassionate care. Our London Mental Health Strategy puts prevention and patient-centred care at the heart of everything we do.

“The London mental health system is stepping up to ensure nobody falls through the cracks. We want everyone to receive appropriate, personalised care, in a timely way, when and where they need it.”

Following extensive engagement with local mental health partners, The London Mental Health Board set out aims to:

• Expand 24/7 community support through new neighbourhood mental health centres
• Offer holistic care for people with substance use needs
• Transform inpatient care
• Expand mental health support for young people in London schools.

Londoners can access emotional support through NHS Talking Therapies. Patients do not need to have a diagnosed mental health condition to refer themselves to NHS talking therapies and receive the support they need.

Communities are encouraged to #StartTheConversation to reduce stigma. To facilitate these conversations and break the stigma surrounding suicide, the NHS in London urges more Londoners to sign up for free suicide prevention training courses, run by Zero Suicide Alliance. It only takes 30 minutes and could save a life.

Founded in 2019 by the Mayor of London and partners, the #ZeroSuicideLDN campaign has provided training to nearly half a million Londoners (465,000), who have learned how to support those around them who may be in crisis.