Councils say failure to extend suicide prevention funds a ‘life or death’ matter

A failure to extend suicide prevention funding across England could have life or death consequences for people, councils are warning ahead of the budget.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is urging the Government to use the Spring Budget to extend funding for projects which it said provide “vital support” to those at-risk and the bereaved, as well as for awareness campaigns in local communities.

Its call is backed by the Samaritans charity which said people “cannot afford for local suicide prevention funding to dwindle away”.

The LGA, which represents councils, voiced concern at a lack of confirmation from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) on whether funding will continue beyond the end of this financial year.

It said the fund, which has been worth £57 million, is due to run only until April.

The LGA urged the Government to use the spring statement to extend the funding, saying councils are “growing concerned about having to stop projects entirely or scale them down significantly”.

Highlighting work different councils have undertaken with the money to date, the LGA gave examples such as regular “wellbeing calls” in areas of Essex for people facing long waits for treatment for depression; a bereavement service for those affected by suicide in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin; and work in Bournemouth with train operators and the British Transport Police in light of a cluster of suicides linked to the railways.

David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “This suicide prevention funding has been a lifeline for many people. Councils have used it to provide fantastic support to those in their communities who have needed help the most.

“Without a commitment by the Government to extend this funding, these vital local schemes face an uncertain future which could have life or death consequences for those who rely on them.

“Councils desperately want to be able to keep tackling this issue, update their local suicide prevention plans in line with the new national suicide prevention strategy, and improve the wellbeing of their areas.”

Julie Bentley, chief executive of Samaritans, said: “People in serious distress cannot afford for local suicide prevention funding to dwindle away.

“Communities across the country rely on this money to help save lives and Samaritans stands shoulder to shoulder with the LGA in calling on the Government to urgently renew the funding in the spring budget.”

A DHSC spokesman did not comment on the specific call from the LGA, but said: “Our national suicide prevention strategy is helping thousands of people approaching crisis to get the support they need.

“We’re also investing £2.3 billion extra a year into mental health services to help an additional two million people access NHS-funded mental health support by 2024, and we recently launched a £10 million fund for the voluntary sector in England to carry out crucial work to save lives.”