National Picture
This page outlines the national plans and strategies for improving mental health, reducing suicide rates and supporting people affected by suicide, as well as reviews into the data on suicide nationally.
Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2012
This strategy sets out plans for reducing suicide rates and supporting those affected by suicide, covering six key areas for action:
- Reducing the risk of suicide in key high-risk groups
- Tailoring approaches to improve mental health in specific groups
- Reducing access to means of suicide
- Providing better information and support to those bereaved or affected
- Supporting media in delivering sensitive approaches to suicide and suicidal behaviour
- Supporting research, data collection and monitoring
The Suicide Prevention Strategy was updated with a progress report for the fifth time in 2021.
Five Year Forward View for mental health
The NHS Five Year Forward View for Mental Health was published in February 2016 and sets out the start of a ten-year journey for the transformation of mental health services.
By 2020/21, the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set the ambition that the number of people taking their own lives will be reduced by 10% nationally compared to 2016/17 levels.
National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health
The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) provides findings relating to people aged 10 and over who died by suicide between 2009 and 2019 across all UK countries, in an accessible format with key messages and infographics.
