Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to continue the local funding for suicide prevention which was previously allocated through the NHS Long Term Plan 2019.

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to investing £57 million in suicide prevention by March 2024 through the NHS Long Term Plan. Through this, all areas of the country are seeing investment to support local suicide prevention plans and the development of suicide bereavement services. Funding beyond 2024/25 is subject to future Spending Reviews, and we will consider further opportunities to build upon this investment for suicide prevention.

On 25 August 2023, the Government launched the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund to support suicide prevention activities delivered in England by voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to March 2025. The fund will support non-profit organisations to meet the increased demand seen in recent years and support a range of diverse and innovative activity that can prevent suicides, both at a national and community level.

As the Chancellor announced in the Spring Budget 2023, we will provide an extra £10 million over the next two years to the VCSE sector through a Suicide Prevention VCSE Grant Fund, which will support them to sustain their services, help meet increased demand for support, prevent suicides and stem the flow into crisis services.