Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department have taken to tackle male suicide rates.

The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England was updated in 2017 to strengthen delivery in a range of key areas for action including targeting high risk groups such as men. The updated strategy is supported by £25 million of investment over the next three years.

Every area is implementing a multi-agency suicide prevention plan to ensure that all local services are working together to implement tailored approaches to reducing suicides in their communities. We acknowledge that men may not engage as easily with services and increasingly, evidence indicates that men feel more comfortable accessing support and services in non-clinical settings.

This has led to a wide range of innovative responses to provide support to men in community environments they find accessible and relevant including, for example, the Men’s Sheds Movement, Andy’s Man Clubs and State of Mind Sport.

We are encouraged that the number of male suicides in England has reduced for the second consecutive year and the overall suicide rate is at its lowest since 2010, but there is much more we must do to ensure that everyone at risk of suicide has the help and support they need.