Agenda item

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, to present on progress made against the Suicide Prevention Action Plan

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, presented a progress update on the 2025-28 Action Plan with the aid of the following powerpoint presentation:-

Suicide Rates for Rotherham 2022-2024

-        The latest suicide data showed that Rotherham had seen a small increase in suicides from 12.6 (2021-23) per 100,000 to 13.3 (2022-24).  However, the rate was statistically similar to the average for England at 10.9 per 100,000

-        Rotherham mirrored the national picture with males still accounting for most of the deaths to suicide in Rotherham.  The rate had slightly increased in 2022-24 to 19.0 per 100,000 compared to 17.2 in 2021-23.  However, it was still statistically similar to the national average for England at 16.8 per 100,000

-        Female deaths in Rotherham was 7.8 (2022-24) per 100,000 which had decreased from 8.1 (2021-23).  It was statistically similar to England at 5.5 per 100,000

Aim 1 Making Suicide Prevention Everyone’s Responsibility

-        Bespoke training for staff across the partnership

-        SPEAK – Suicide Prevention Explore, Ask, Keep-Safe.  14 x SPEAK sessions (8 x online and 6 x face-to-face)

-        Training commenced mid-April and would be targeted at schools/colleges who would then be able to access the ‘Sinking Feeling’ Toolkit

-        Autism Suicide Prevention Campaign launched on 10^th September, 2025

Aim 2 Support to those bereaved, affected and exposed to suicide

-        Sudden and Traumatic Bereavement Pathway updated and available on TriX

-        Walk with Us Resource – original and new easy read version delivered to all schools and colleges in Rotherham

-        72 staff from across Rotherham Partner organisations attended a workshop in May 2026 about talking to children who had been bereaved which promoted Amparo support and Walk with Us

-        Supporting children, young people and adults living and or working in South Yorkshire with practical and emotional support

-        Regular Zoom training sessions for practitioners and during awareness weeks

-        Amparo attended community events and promoted the service at CYPS staff event

-        Support provided to community and staff groups who had been affected by suicide

-        Cup of Calm drop-in sessions

Aim 3 Reducing suicides amongst high risk groups by reaching people where they live and work

-        Testing of the Rotherham Contagion Plan April 2026 facilitated by DHSC colleague

-        Community Response plan meetings in geographical areas where higher number of suicides had been seen – training for local practitioners, distribution of mental health newsletter

-        Rotherham Samaritans Wellbeing Pathway Activity

-        Be the One Autism and Suicide Prevention Work

-        Domestic Abuse and Suicide Prevention training

-        Chronic pain work including chronic pain pathway (Rotherham PARTS NHS)

-        Vista Project – attempted suicide prevention pilot implemented in response to real time data which showed a previous attempt as one of 3 top themes for those who had died by suicide

-        Vista commenced April 2025 and ran to mid-July 2026

-        Support for people who had attempted suicide or had suicidal ideation where it was a life event.  Chronic illness, bereavement/loss, feelings of worthlessness and rejection and social isolation were the most common reasons for individuals accessing the Service

-        The project used Recovery Star to monitor progress so each programme was individualised.  At Quarter 3, all patients demonstrated improvement in at least 3 areas of the Recovery Star.  The tool covered 10 domains and, whilst not all were applicable to every individual, patients showed progress in an average of 5.3 out of 10 areas

-        Although the data was small, since the project started in April 2025, it appeared there had been a reduction in those accessing home treatment and a reduction in the number of acute contacts (individual and overall)

Aim 4 Using data to inform delivery of suicide prevention in Rotherham

-        Frequently used locations – work with South Yorkshire Police, BTP and National Highways

-        Suicide Operational Group – using the real time data to inform practice at a Place level

-        South  Yorkshire Coroners Audit with support from Coroners and Sheffield University

Additional Support

-        Kooth, Qwell, EYUP-Shout, Rotherham Samaritans, RotherHive, Andy’s Man Club, ASK, MATT, RAW, Men Actually Talk and Crisis Line

South Yorkshire Wide Activity

-        Memorial event, real time surveillance, training – older adults and LGBTQI+ communities, Coroner’s Audit, Amparo, Walk with Us, Neurodiverse Groups and Suicide Prevention toolkit, 4 Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide Groups in Rotherham

Next Steps

-        Implementation of the action plan was overseen by the Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Group.  Partners of the HWBB were represented

-        Some actions would take place at a South Yorkshire level subject to funding

-        The Board would receive updates on progress and any emerging concerns

-        Development of a South Yorkshire Suicide Prevention Plan on a Page 2026/27

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·        There had been 39 attendees at the training so far

·        Awareness raising was very important.  It was common for people to be fearful of asking the questions if they were worrying about somebody and was why Papyrus had been commissioned

·        Early intervention and prevention was important as well as work around loneliness and isolation and how to encourage people to have mindful conversations

·        Concern regarding the 16-24 year old NEET population.  There was a lot of talk about this particular age group and their mental health nationally with raising rates of anxiety and loneliness.  Work was to take place looking at the rates in Rotherham as well as work being carried out in Employment Solutions.  The challenging environment that some of the young people found themselves in could not be underestimated

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress made to date by Partners to deliver actions within the Rotherham Suicide Prevention Action Plan, 2025-2028 be noted.

(2)  That the Partnership work across South Yorkshire, which would also support delivery at Place, be noted.

(3)  That the Board continue to receive regular updates on progress against priority areas identified in the action plan with any emerging concerns escalated when necessary, including concerns regarding funding pressures.