Praise for progress on steps to reduce rates of suicide
Praise has been given to campaigns being carried out in Sunderland to help reduce rates of suicide in the city.
Data published in September 2021, for the three-year period of 2018-2020, showed the suicide rate for Sunderland had increased to 14.4 per 100,000 of the population, up from 12.4 for the previous period.
Officers noted the rise was in line with national trends, butwasabovetheEnglandand NorthEastratesof10.4and12.4 respectively.
However council officers said the latest figures, to be published later this month, show Sunderland has seen the
“largestdecrease”intheNorth East since October 2019, after previously having the highest rate in the region.
Council chiefs said this
demonstrates the positive work of focusing on their suicide prevention partnership, withanewactionplan,workin primary care and a suicide coordination arrangement also to key progress made.
Councillors, after receiving the update at the latest city council scrutiny coordinating committee,praisedstepsbeing taken to tackle the issue.
Cllr Michael Butler, who noted he set up a men’s mental health group when first elected, said he was “really glad to see all of the work being done”.
He said: “It doesn’t just affect individuals in their families, it affects communities, and unfortunately something wedohaveistraumatisedcommunities.
“I think we should get into those communities, which is phenomenally difficult because people are proud and sometimes it’s very hard, because we’re not really the type of people to sit around and say that we’re depressed.”
He also praised the work of theMindmentalhealthcharity in putting on courses.
Cllr Neil MacKnight encouragedpeopletotakepartin mentalhealthfirstaidtraining if the opportunity arises.
He added: “You don’t really realise how many people out there are struggling. It is just the confidence to have that conversation.”
Cllr Dianne Snowdon, who chaired the meeting, praised the work carried out by Sunderland AFC and Washington Mind around mental health support, but stressed an “awful lot more” still needs doing.
Councilofficersaddedthey continuetoworkwithpartners to support and enable residents to access mental health services where needed A prevention action plan is being developed.