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Suicide Prevention Strategy Report, August 2008

The fifth annual report of progress on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (and Cornwall) was published on the 1st August 2008. This report sets out what has been achieved in 2007 and highlights what further activity is taking place in 2008.

The report indicates that although overall rate of suicide amongst the general population is continuing to fall and is at the lowest rate on record, the rate of decline has slowed. If this trend were to continue the 2010 target will not be met and there remain areas of specific concern, both at a national and regional level.

Events in Bridgend in Wales are a reminder of the potential dangers of insensitive reporting of suicides and the benefits of getting it right. The report references key documents that have been produced e.g Sensitive Coverage Saves Lives (2007) and What’s the Story? Reporting Mental Health and Suicide (2008). The latter handbook highlights the evidence that careless reporting of suicide may trigger copycat suicides and provides advice to journalists to encourage more sensitive and responsible coverage.

To deliver the NSF Standard 7 target for suicide prevention it is vital that there is a continuation of building on this work by health, social care and suicide prevention agencies in partnership with the media.

The link to the Suicide Prevention Strategy report is ......www.nimhe.csip.org.uk

SHIFT What's the story? Reporting Mental Health and Suicide: More information can be found at... shift.org.uk