New plan to reduce suicide and self harm in Wales

A new five-year plan to reduce suicide and self harm in Wales has been unveiled for consultation by the Welsh Government.

Each year in Wales between 300 and 350 people die from suicide – about three times the number killed in road accidents. There are approximately 5,500 hospital admissions for self harm every year.

Talk to Me 2, which builds on the first Talk to Me plan, launched in 2009, sets out the strategic aims and objectives to prevent and reduce suicide and self harm in Wales between 2014 and 2019. It also builds on and complements Together for Mental Health and the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010.

It identifies those groups of people who are particularly vulnerable to suicide and self harm and sets out the care they should receive, provided in the right place, at the right time.

Talk to Me 2 will be subject to a 12-week consultation, which closes on March 5, 2015.

The suicide and self harm prevention activities, which will be a national priority in Wales over the next five years include:

• Reducing access to the means of suicide
• Delivering appropriate responses to personal crises, early intervention and management of suicide and self harm
• Further improving awareness, knowledge and understanding of suicide and self harm among the public; people who frequently come into contact with those at risk of suicide and self harm and professionals in Wales
• Providing information and support for people bereaved or affected by suicide and self harm
• Supporting the media in responsible reporting and portrayal of suicide and suicidal behaviour
• Continuing to promote and support learning, information and monitoring systems and research to improve understanding of suicide and self harm in Wales and guide action.

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Suicide is usually in response to a complex series of factors, which are both personal and related to wider social and community influences. It is a tragedy for all concerned and is a cause of distress for many people – the individual, family, friends, professionals and the wider community.

“It is estimated that for every person who dies through suicide at least six others are significantly and directly affected. Many others may be indirectly affected. Losing someone through suicide can be particularly traumatic and difficult to cope with; its impacts are psychological, spiritual and economic.

“Our five-year strategy aims to promote, co-ordinate and support plans and programmes to reduce suicide and prevent self harm at national, regional and local levels.

“Prevention of suicide and self harm is a major challenge for us all, but no single organisation or government department can tackle this issue in isolation. The successful implementation of Together for Mental Health, the Measure and Talk to Me 2 will make a significant contribution to the prevention of suicide and self harm in Wales.”