Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address the higher rates of (a) suicide, (b) intentional self‑harm, (c) drug poisoning mortality, (d) depression and (e) anxiety among LGB+ women.

The Government recognises that some groups, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexual minority (LGBTQ+) women, experience poorer mental health outcomes, and we are committed to reducing these inequalities across the system.

We are developing a new mental health strategy for England, to ensure services respond more effectively and equitably to the needs of different groups across the population. The strategy will be informed by the findings from NHS England’s LGBT+ health evidence review which launched last year and which is looking to better understand LGBT+ healthcare needs, including in relation to mental health, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

In parallel, we are continuing to deliver the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, which aims to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide and address the factors that increase risk, while improving support for people who self‑harm and those affected by suicide. The strategy is supported by updated Staying Safe from Suicide guidance and national training for staff. One of the key principles of this guidance is ensuring practices are inclusive and adaptable, particularly for marginalised and high-risk groups.

We are also expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that more people experiencing anxiety and depression can access evidence‑based treatment earlier. This is supported by work to improve inclusion and reduce barriers to access for LGBTQ+ people, including through published NHS Talking Therapies LGBTQ+ Positive Practice guidance, which sets out practical steps for services to provide more inclusive care and improve outcomes.