Suicide: Men
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether steps have been taken to ensure neighbourhood health delivers effective suicide prevention support for middle aged men.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government recognises the importance of effective suicide prevention support for middle-aged men, who remain disproportionately affected by suicide.
The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious reforms to shift healthcare from hospital to community, and from sickness to prevention, including transforming mental health services to improve access to treatment and promote good mental health and wellbeing for men and boys.
As part of this work, the Government is investing up to £3.6 million over the next three years in Suicide Prevention Support Pathfinder programmes for middle-aged men. These pathfinders will improve timely access to neighbourhood-based support and strengthen joined-up pathways between services.
The Government is also taking wider action to support men’s mental health through the forthcoming Men’s Health Strategy, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of men across England, including by tackling men’s mental health. This includes a landmark partnership with the Premier League to improve health literacy and engagement around mental health and suicide prevention, alongside work with employers to pilot approaches to supporting men’s mental health in the workplace.
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