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 help improve public awareness of suicide prevention support in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to delivering the five-year cross-government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, which sets out over 100 actions to reduce suicide and save lives. The strategy identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level and includes action to improve awareness of available support, encourage help-seeking behaviour, and reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental ill-health.

The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023–2028 highlights the importance of reducing stigma surrounding suicide and aims to destigmatise help-seeking for those who may be at risk. The Government believes that suicide prevention is everyone's business. Every person, organisation, and service across the country has a role to play in preventing suicide. In recent years, good progress has been made in tackling the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, but there is more to do to ensure that people feel able to seek support when they need it.

The Department engages regularly with a range of suicide prevention organisations and charities, to support delivery of the strategy. These organisations play a vital role in raising awareness of suicide prevention support, promoting open conversations about mental health, and tackling the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.