Issue - meetings

This report provides a summary of progress with implementation of the 2019- 2023 B&NES Suicide Prevention Strategy.  It also provides an outline of next steps with the refresh of the local strategy and an update on the BSW Suicide Prevention Strategy. 

Councillor Eleanor Jackson addressed the Panel, a copy of her statement is attached as an online appendix to these minutes and a summary is set out below.

‘Quite a few years ago now I attended a wake at St Nicholas Church, Radstock for a 20 year old NEET, who had taken his own life out of loneliness and depression. A grant had been found through our then in house youth services for some art therapy for the bereaved young people, but a long term solution was needed. I asked around the group, ‘What can BANES do?’ The answer was unanimous. The youth clubs are doing great work for children, but we feel we are being abandoned when we turn 18.

Reading the report, which is a good systematic approach to the problem (but suicide is not like knife crime or growing food. It has a myriad network effect, scarring families and communities), I am not really sure that there is a grasp of recent changes, and the challenge of social media abuse and bullying. Not to mention the ease with which young people can gain information about methods.

There is no mention of the side effects of some drugs, such as a well-known anti high blood pressure prescription medication producing suicidal thoughts.

One fact re our young people: whether at home or school – or the youth clubs, they need stability and continuity. They need to know where and how they can get professional help if they need it. Labelling won’t help. This council making sure that such expertise, and local knowledge is available is crucial.

Suicides are more than statistics, and whatever their age or background, there needs to be effective prevention now.’

The Associate Director of Public Health addressed the Panel and explained that he was also Chair of the BSW Suicide Prevention Group. He said that he would like to emphasise that a lot of work is carried out within schools and with young people on this matter.

He said good relationships were in place with the Transport Police and Samaritans and that training had taken place with their staff. He added that locally it was a low number of deaths that occur on the trainline, but that these can often happen away from the station areas.

He said that he was also aware of the many local organisations that are working hard on the stigma of this issue and felt that people were now more able to talk about things more openly.

He stated that they do recognise the impact that each death will have on the family and friends of those involved.

Councillor Alison Born commented that this was a complex issue and said that the report shows the breadth of work in place to attempt to address it. She also wished to thank all those involved in these service areas.

The Associate Director of Public Health introduced the report to the Panel and informed them that the number of deaths locally from suicide had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56