Suicide prevention improvement programme

Background

In October 2018, ADPH and LGA jointly conducted a survey with councils to identify what effective local suicide prevention planning looks like, and how national and local partnerships are working together to reduce and prevent suicide. One hundred and fifty out of 152 local authorities with responsibility for public health completed the survey. Samaritans and the University of Exeter, commissioned by ADPH and LGA with support from PHE, produced report on local-level suicide prevention planning in England. The findings and recommendations from this report feed directly into this sector-led improvement programme.

On 17 June 2019, the Government pledged extra funding for the ADPH and LGA SLI programme to support local authorities to strengthen suicide prevention plans, under a range of measures aimed at improving support for mental health.

National support

Resources

Must know: suicide prevention: This guide provides a summary of the key issues around suicide prevention and is aimed at elected members, particularly those whose portfolio responsibilities include suicide prevention or those who are a suicide prevention champion for their council.

A series of case studies and a national sharing event designed to provide wider and easier access to the good practice, learning and existing resources. Case studies will provide detailed examples of local and regional good practice on suicide prevention.

More details on the national sharing event will be provided shortly. For more information, please email suicide.prevention@local.gov.uk

Regional support

Suicide Prevention SLI Offer – Regional Support

Each regional ADPH network will receive a grant for SLI suicide prevention activity. This will fund coordination capacity, enabling each network to build upon strong existing suicide prevention SLI activity within the regions, reflecting regionally determined priorities. 

To find out more, contact your regional ADPH Network SLI coordinator. If you are unsure who this is, please contact teresa.grandi@adph.org.uk or email suicide.prevention@local.gov.uk

Local support

Suicide Prevention Bespoke Local Support

Bespoke expert support is available for local authorities and partners who want to improve their suicide prevention offer as part of the ADPH/LGA Suicide Prevention SLI Programme. Bespoke support could entail a one-day workshop or three days of light-touch support by peer experts on a specific delivery challenge. An action plan will be produced for the local area to take forward to address local opportunities and challenges in suicide prevention. Recent expressions of interest have focused on community engagement; protected characteristics; Real Time Surveillance systems; joining up work; and frequently used locations. 

Whilst the submission of expression of interest does not require a formal application, it is suggested to cover the following:

• describe the suicide prevention delivery challenge to be explored by the bespoke support
• provide evidence of local need

Expressions of interest should not exceed two pages. The deadline is 21 April 2022. 

Expressions of interest are required to be supported and signed by the director of public health. It is also encouraged to seek the approval of the public health lead member and partner organisations. If expressions of interest exceed the current level of support, bespoke sessions will be allocated by the programme team based upon the criteria set out above. 

Please submit expressions of interest to suicide.prevention@local.gov.uk

Case studies

Read case studies done jointly with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance.

Contact

Email: suicide.prevention@local.gov.uk

Email: Teresa Grandi, Sector-Led Improvement Programme Manager - Association of Directors of Public Health, teresa.grandi@adph.org.uk