Nick Clegg outlines new strategy to cut number of suicides
28th January 2015
With election season fast approaching the leaders of the main parties have started making big claims already. As ever, healthcare and the NHS is a hot-button issue. Last week the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg called for a “fundamental overhaul of how the NHS tackles suicides”.
In the UK over 4,500 people killed themselves in 2013 and suicide remains one of the biggest killers of men under 50. Clegg called for a “zero suicides” target for the NHS. The model to be trialled in order to reach this target is based on a scheme used in the US city of Detroit where suicides rates fell by 75% over 4 years. Merseycare NHS Trust is going to embark on a similar strategy that involves increased staff training and the formation of a dedicated expert “Safe from Suicide” team who will conduct rapid assessments with vulnerable patients. Similarly, the scheme also aims to improve the treatment of those who present to A&E and improve the data collection of such patients in order to better target relevant resources.
The original scheme was pioneered in 2001 by the Henry Ford Medical Group in Detroit. They claim that as a result of the “Perfect Depression Care Programme” there have been no suicides among their population for the last 2 and a half years. Clegg went on to say that suicide is “preventable, not inevitable” and spoke of the fact that many feel embarrassed or unable to discuss suicide with loved ones. It is this taboo that can put many lives at risk. Clegg has also stated that mental health will be a core piece of the Lib Dems general election manifesto.
It can only be a good thing that those in power are treating mental health issues and suicide in particular as a priority in the run up to the election. However, as this statement from Rethink Mental Illness points out it is not necessarily enough to just provide expert care at times of crisis. What will have more long term benefits both health-wise and economically is providing more funding for early intervention services as well. In this way people can be helped and managed safely before reaching a point of crisis. Ideally, with increased funding in all aspects of mental health care people can have access to the specific care they need at any time and in any circumstance.