Suicide prevention inquiry: Committee visit Liverpool and Salford
24 November 2016
The Health Committee spent a day gathering views on suicide prevention from a number of key organisations in Liverpool and Salford, all of whom are involved, in one way or another, in addressing mental health issues.
Key organisations visited
- Cheshire and Merseyside Suicide Prevention Network were our main hosts, and described their large-scale programme to promote greater co-ordination of suicide prevention interventions, including community programmes, training for professionals, programmes to improve suicide prevention in mental health care settings, and hugely important work around supporting families bereaved by suicide
- Everton in the Community: MPs met with men who have benefited from the programmes offered by this group. Based at Goodison Park, the charity uses sport to deliver high quality, inclusive social development opportunities, including "Active Blues", a programme aimed at males aged 35-50 which provides free weekly sport sessions across a variety of different sporting activities
- State of Mind: The Committee spoke to Malcom Rae and Dr Phil Cooper, from State of Mind, whose comprehensive education sessions promote positive mental health throughout the UK in super league, championship and amateur clubs as well as colleges and community groups. The Committee also heard from Danny Sculthorpe, a former Super League rugby player who uses his personal experience of injury and illness and how he deals with his problems to contribute to training programmes
- AMPARO: provides support for family members in Merseyside and Cheshire, following suicide. Support is provided 1:1 involving dealing with Police and Coroners, helping with any media enquiries, help with overcoming isolation experienced and contacting and signposting to other local support services
- NO MORE Zero Suicide Strategy which was published with the key aims of developing Suicide Safer Communities, for healthcare to transform to achieve zero suicides, to support those bereaved and ensure the efforts of the network are sustained. The Zero Suicide strategy forms one part of the Suicide Prevention Network's broader strategy. The Committee met a number of members of the network, including Sue Forster, Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Suicide Prevention Network Board and Interim Director of Public Health for St Helens, and Jane Boland, Suicide Prevention Clinical Lead, Mersey Care NHS Trust
- Salford Liaison Psychiatry service which provides effective psychiatric treatment for those who have been identified with serious mental health problems within the acute hospital
Chair's comments
Chair of the Health Select Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston, said:
"It was immensely helpful to meet so many of those who are working to try to make a difference on preventing suicide across Merseyside, Cheshire and Manchester. We were able to hear their views on the challenges and barriers to those seeking help as well as profoundly moving evidence from those bereaved by suicide.
The committee will be able to put many of their questions and proposals to the government when Jeremy Hunt comes to our final evidence session on Tuesday. The committee hopes that the views of witnesses will contribute to the government's forthcoming suicide prevention strategy."
Further information
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