Suicide Safe Communities Simon Howes, CALM / LCH

3-pronged approach

Suicide Safer Communities

Perfect Depression Care

SuicideLiaisonService

Prevention

Intervention

Postvention

Mental Health Services (2009 data)

In relation to the national data available for England and Wales, in the Mersey Care NHS Trust catchment area, only 11% of suicides occur in people who are in contact with services, compared to the national data of 28%*

i.e. 89% of those who died by suicide in the Mersey Care catchment area were NOT in touch with secondary MH services within one year prior to death, highlighting the need for a Public Health approach to Suicide Prevention

* The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness Annual Report July 2014

11%

89%

In touch with secondary MH services within one year prior to deathNOT in touch with sec-ondary MH services within one year prior to death

Suicide Safer Communities

A concept developed by The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention & Living Works

A “Suicide Safer Community” is one in which people, organizations and stakeholders have come together to:

• Prevent suicides• Promote public education and awareness• Provide support to people bereaved by suicide and promote healing and

recovery• Promote the mental health and well being of all its citizens

Suicide Safer Communities

5 Pillars:

1) Leadership

A Leadership Committee comprised of community organizations and individuals exists to assume a leadership position focused on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. 

2) Action Plan

An action plan based on systemic processes and evidence based methods for promoting suicide prevention and building capacity has been developed.  Events are organized in support of World Suicide Prevention Day every September 10th. 

Suicide Safer Communities

3) Gatekeeper Training

Investments have been made in training community gatekeepers.  There is evidence that an appropriate number of suicide prevention gatekeepers have been trained in relationship to the population size or a plan for gatekeeper training has been included in the community suicide prevention action plan.

 4) Suicide Bereavement

Resources and supports are in place and available to support people bereaved by a suicide death.

 5) Mental Health Promotion

A thoughtful and comprehensive plan to inform the community about mental health and wellness has been established.

Gatekeeper training

LACM LA Population Census

2011 DataRecommended number of

trained gatekeepers (2:10k pop)No of sessions

(if 30 people per session)

Cheshire East 370,127 74 3

Cheshire West and Chester 329,608 66 3

Halton 125,746 25 1

Knowsley 145,893 29 1

Liverpool 466,415 93 4

St Helens 175,308 35 2

Sefton 273,790 55 2

Warrington 202,228 40 2

Wirral 319,783 64 3

Total 2,408,898 482 21

The S RAP and its value

The Suicide Reduction Action Plan is organised by the 6 objectives outlined within the Preventing Suicide in England strategy. In addition, actions related to wellbeing promotion are also included.

The level of intervention (local/regional) and responsible lead are outlined, along with a red, amber or green (RAG) status.

The action plan should be reviewed annually by the local authority public health (LA-PH) suicide lead and the Cheshire and Merseyside Regional group.

An annual report based upon progress towards meeting these actions should also be produced.

Suicide-Safer Community - A checklist

• Establish a Suicide-Safer Community committee

• Establish the population size of your community

• Identify organisations representing your community

• Create and agree an action plan or strategy with identified priorities

• Support and commission accessible suicide intervention services

• Support and commission accessible suicide bereavement support

• Support and commission promotion of mental health and wellness activities

• Support and commission proactive suicide prevention activities

• Establish a pool of formally trained gatekeepers

• Participate in World Suicide Prevention Day

Challenges

① How do we ensure these actions are done in depth, both horizontally across communities and vertically across organisations?

② How do we close gaps and reduce the unequal risks?

Suicide Safe Communities Simon Howes, CALM / LCH