Agenda item

The report presents the multi-agency Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2015-2020 (attached). This strategy is a continuation of the 2010-2015 Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Strategy. It sets out the partnership priorities and framework for suicide prevention across Kent and Medway for the next five years and contains the first year’s implementation plan.

Discussion:

The Consultant in Public Health introduced the report on the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Strategy 2015-2020.

The Consultant in Public Health explained the strategic priorities identified for Kent and Medway which were:

·         To reduce risk in key high risk groups

·         Tailor approaches to improve mental health and wellbeing in Kent and Medway

·         Reduce access to the means of suicide

·         Provide better information and support to those bereaved or affected by suicide

·         Support the media in delivering sensitive approaches to suicide and suicidal behaviour

·         Support research, data collection and monitoring

She responded to Members’ questions as follows:

·         Medway Council’s role – further to a question as to what more the Council could do, bearing in mind the connections the Council has with a number of high risk groups, she stated that the Emotional and Wellbeing Strategy for Young People would be important in addressing risks in young people

·         Ensuring lower risk groups are not forgotten – it was stated that although not all groups would be targeted as being high risk this did not mean they would be forgotten and approaches would be incorporated in relevant strategies and services

·         Timely referrals – one of the areas identified by Members as being problematic was timely referrals for young people in particular who may start self harming and need urgent attention.  The Director of Children and Adults Services offered to have a joint briefing of Members of this Committee with those Members of Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee to tackle the topic of mental health and wellbeing.  She referred to the Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing Strategy for young people which was due to go to Cabinet shortly.

·         Men in Sheds project – further to a query about the continuation of

Funding for the Men in Sheds project it was stated that it was hoped

the project could continue and there were no plans to stop funding.  This followed discussion about what specific work was being done with middle aged men – concern was expressed at the numbers of middle aged men committing suicide.  The Men in Sheds project offered an opportunity for men to be able to discuss areas of concern with others while undertaking practical tasks.  The project was commissioned from the Sunlight Development Trust and although not yet advertised widely a number of local health services referred men to it and men could self refer

·         Sexual orientation and gender – the Healthwatch Medway representative stressed the importance of reaching certain groups who may be at risk and requested more detail about the plans set out on page 53 of the agenda.  The Programme Manager, Public Health, Kent County Council offered the representative from Healthwatch Medway an opportunity to join a steering group to further this.

·         Post partum psychosis – this was referred to as being an area where more attention needed to be given as levels of understanding about the condition were thought to be low.  The Director of Public Health then referred to the work being undertaken by specialist midwives and specialist health visitors in this regard.  The Director of Children and Adults Services paid tribute to work being done by Family Action giving peri natal support.  This was being undertaken with funding from the Big Lottery project.

·         Assistance for people in financial crisis/debt – further to a question it was stated that this could be a potential topic for Suicide Prevention Day and there could be an opportunity to get credit unions, Citizens Advice Bureau involved to work together to support people who were facing financial/debt issues.

·         Media guide – In response to a question about what advice was given to the media it was stated that the Samaritans have produced a media guide and close working was taking place between the Councils and media to ensure appropriate wording was used in their coverage of suicide cases to avoid copy cat suicides taking place.

·         Live it well website – The Programme Manager, Public Health, Kent County Council stated that the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board intended to refresh the website later in the year.  It provided a database of services for people with mental health conditions and had proved very useful.  He undertook to supply the Committee, outside of the meeting, with details of the number of people who used the site.

·         Support from Schools – in response to a question about the need for support for young people facing pressure and stress in their teens the Director of Children and Adults Services confirmed the Children and Young People Emotional Health and Wellbeing Strategy for young people took into account these issues in particular dealing with self harm.

·         Ethnicity – it was explained that it was difficult to assess the ethnicity of those committing suicide as this was not data which the coroner’s office collected

Decision:

The Committee:

(a)  Noted the report;

(b)  Noted that the Director of Children and Adults Services had offered a joint briefing between this Committee and Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the topic of mental health and wellbeing;

(c)  Noted that the Programme Manager, Public Health, Kent County Council would forward to the Committee details of the analytics from the Live it Well website to explain how many people use the website.