MP pledges to help in fight to prevent suicide
WEAVER Vale’s Mike Amesbury MP has joined Samaritans in Parliament recently to pledge to do everything he can to prevent suicide in 2018.
Samaritans hosted politicians from across the parties to think about how they can reduce the number of lives lost to it.
The charity has said there are more than 6,000 suicides in the UK every year.
It has now called on local authorities and the Government to ensure that prevention services target the most vulnerable residents.
Samaritans said the evidence, as set out in their recent report Dying From Inequality, showed a strong link between economic disadvantage and suicide.
Mr Amesbury, whose constituency straddles most of east Runcorn, Frodsham, Daresbury and Northwich, said: “It was fantastic to join Samaritans and hear about their recommendations, and what we can all do to help vulnerable people.
“I’ll be doing everything I can next year to raise this issue in Parliament, and to prevent suicide in Weaver Vale.”
Ruth Sutherland, Samaritans chief executive, said: “It’s amazing to see MPs turn up today to say they’re going to work hard next year to prevent suicide.
“People sometimes wonder whether suicide can be prevented, of course it can.
“At Samaritans we’ve got a clear list of recommendations, informed by our decades of work on this issue.
“We’ll work with MPs next year to turn these recommendations into reality.” ●