Health and Social Care Secretary today met with bereaved families and key stakeholders, such as Papyrus and James Place, to talk about his personal mission to prevent suicides
Key initiatives set out to reduce risk of #suicide and bolster services, including new #NationalSuicidePreventionPlan
#Men urged to respond to #mentalhealth call for evidence as only 19% of respondents so far are #male
The Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, set out actions being taken to prevent suicides and urged #men to talk about their #mentalhealth in a speech at #suicideprevention charity Papyrus’s headquarters in London today, Friday 24 June 2022.
In his speech, spurred by his own family’s experience of #suicide and bereavement after the death of his own brother, the Health and Social Care Secretary highlighted the importance of seeking help and the wide-ranging plans already underway to bolster support services as well as new initiatives coming up to reduce suicides.
These include a refreshed #suicideprevention plan, better services for bereaved families, and better use of technology to understand the causes of #suicide.
Ahead of his speech Mr Javid also met with key stakeholders, such as Papyrus, to discuss #suicideprevention and his personal mission to bolster the support available, particularly for #men. He also met people with lived experience of #suicide including Philip Pirie, Harry Biggs-Davison, Mike McCarthy and Steve Philip whose sons died by #suicide, as well as key partners such as If U Care Share, Samaritans and James Place, among others.
#Men can be reluctant to engage with health and other support services and anyone who needs help is being encouraged to speak to their GP or self-refer through the NHS.
In 2021, there were over 5,000 suicides registered in England. #Suicide is the biggest cause of death in #men under the age of 50 and around three quarters of deaths from suicides each year are #men. On top of this, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the highest rates of #suicide in #men have been in mixed and white #ethnic groups. The Samaritans answer a call for help every 10 seconds, and tragically, around every 90 minutes someone dies from #suicide in the UK alone.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said:
We must treat suicides with the same urgency that we treat any other major killer.
I’m determined to make a difference on this issue … and one of the ways we’ll do this is by publishing a new 10-year #suicideprevention plan.
This is something that is deeply personal to me – there are too many families that are left incomplete, and too much potential has gone unfulfilled.
Mr Javid outlined steps the government is taking to engage communities at greatest risk, focusing on socioeconomic and regional disparities, improving services and utilising new technologies.
He announced that work would be undertaken with experts to standardise safety guidance for frontline professionals working with at risk people to ensure best practice, and there would be access to #suicideprevention training for all MPs, parliamentary staff and frontline government workers to ensure they are equipped with the skills to interact with people in crisis.
Most people who have been bereaved by #suicide within their immediate family will be contacted by bereavement services proactively within days of a referral to offer support, removing the onus from the bereaved at their time of #grief.
As well as this, he outlined the greater use of apps and online services and better data collection, including rolling out a national suspected #suicide surveillance system early next year which looks at risk patterns and will enable better mitigation methods. This will enable a better understanding of tackling complex causes of #suicide, including online through the Online Safety Bill and ensuring upcoming legislation adapts to rapidly evolving challenges.
He said:
The Online Safety Bill gives us a once in a generation opportunity to tackle this issue. I will also work jointly across government to look at both upcoming and current legislation to make sure it meets the rapidly evolving challenges that we face.
Because when it comes to the encouragement of #suicide we are currently relying on legislation that was primarily created long before the digital age.
He talked about the new long-term #SuicidePreventionPlan and how important it is that this is shaped by views and experiences of the public, professionals and people with lived experience. He also highlighted how the government is bolstering voluntary and community #suicideprevention services through £5 million of funding in 2021 to 2022 and reiterated the improvement to support services to ensure by 2023 to 2024 anyone in the country can dial NHS 111 to reach their local NHS #mentalhealth team and access around the clock support. This would make England one of the first countries in the world to have this offer.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Initially launching the call for evidence on 12 April, the Health Secretary also called specifically on #men to contribute their views on what can be improved within current services to help inform a new 10-year #mentalhealth plan as well as a refreshed #NationalSuicidePreventionPlan.
Through its call for evidence, the government is seeking views on what can be improved within the current service, looking for representation across all ages, genders and backgrounds, particularly in light of the #pandemic which has led to record levels of people seeking treatment. Men in particular are urged to respond as only 19% of respondents so far are male.
He urged:
I want to hear views from far and wide about how to shape this work and the roundtable that I chaired here earlier this morning was so illuminating.
I heard heart-breaking tales of love and loss but also inspirational stories of the work being done to divert people from this painful path, including of course here at Papyrus.
I am determined to make a difference on this issue.
The 10-year plan will help tackle the #COVID backlogs, building on the NHS Long Term plan and forms part of the government’s wider commitments to Build Back Fairer, working towards putting #mentalhealth on a level footing with physical health, and forms a key part of the commitments to address health disparities across the country and to improve the #mentalwellbeing of the nation by 2030.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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