Agenda item
Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Action Plan Update
- Meeting of Health and Wellbeing Board, Wednesday 25 November 2015 9.00 a.m. (Item 37.)
- View the background to item 37.
- Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, to report
Minutes:
Further to Minute No. 81 of the meeting held on 18th May, 2015, Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, presented a progress report on the actions detailed in the Rotherham Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Action Plan.
The report set out the actions/areas of development undertaken under each of the eight areas:-
- Increase local level of understanding suicide and establish reporting mechanisms to strategic partners
- Reduce risk in high risk groups – children and young people
- Tailor approaches to improve mental health in specific groups
- Reduce access to medication
- Better information and support to those bereaved by suicide
- Support media in delivering sensitive approaches to suicide and suicidal behaviour
- Data collection and monitoring
- Workforce development
Discussion ensued with the following highlighted/raised:-
· A meeting with Head Teachers was still awaited to discuss the response plan – information had been sent to Safeguarding leads
· The social marketing campaign for young people had been developed and was awaiting graphics
· The Rotherham Self-Harm Practice Guidance 2015 was ready for circulation
· Mental Health First Aid was a nationally recognised course for anyone working with adults or young people. Funding had been received from the CCG and Public Health for 2015/16 but no commitment going forward
· Training and workforce development was an issue - there were only 2 Youth trainers and 3 Adult trainers in the whole of Rotherham. Part of the CaMHS work was to look at workforce learning and a more robust co-ordinated approach to training. It was very important to get youth trainers in place
· Promotion of the training to employers
· Samaritans were used as a support organisation but there were resource issues
· Publicity campaigns were with the Graphic Team for finalisation and once complete would have a scheduled timetable against them
· Death by suicide was a long term issue for families who needed long term support. The pathway for adults needed to be looked at as it was quite often a year after the death that an inquest was held. A leaflet had been drafted which contained all the detail of the services available as well as discussions with South Yorkshire Police who were looking at services Force-wide.
· Information available to support witnesses/bystanders
· Consideration should be given to the many other opportunities for offering advice including Councillors
· National resource, “Help is at Hand”, had been sent to all GP surgeries
· When there had been a self-harm incident/suspected suicide within a school and the Community Response Plan activated, partners had worked together very effectively and a multi-agency meeting held. The feedback from the schools involved had been really appreciative and they had felt fully supported and equipped to deal with the incident
Resolved:- (1) That the actions taken by the Rotherham Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Group be noted.
(2) That the Office of National Statistics data on suicides and undetermined deaths from 2009-2014 be noted.
(3) That the recommendations for future activity be endorsed.
(4) That the Suicide and Self-Harm Community Response Plan be included on the agenda for the next available Head Teachers’ meeting.
(5) That discussion take place on promotion of the training available to employers with a report back to the next Board meeting.
(6) That an All Member seminar be held on Mental Health.
Supporting documents:
- Suicide Prevention Cover Report, item 37. PDF 55 KB
- Rotherham Suicide Appendix 1, item 37. PDF 382 KB
- Rotherham Suicide Appendix 2, item 37. PDF 223 KB