The NHS struggles to keep up with the challenges of mental health.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 115 people die by Suicide in the UK every week. The causes and consequences of Suicide are complex; however, raising awareness and working collaboratively to support people earlier to prevent them from reaching the lowest point while tackling emerging methods of Suicide and eradicating harmful material online is imperative.

In September 2023, the government published its comprehensive five-year strategy aimed at reducing suicide rates, enhancing support for self-harm survivors, and providing better assistance to those bereaved by Suicide. This ambitious strategy comprises over 100 actionable items, led by various government departments, the NHS, the voluntary sector, and our national partners, focusing on substantial progress within the next two years.

The new labour government plans to reform the NHS, ensuring that mental health is given the same attention as physical health. Plans include recruiting an additional 8,500 new mental health staff through the first term of government, who will be specially trained to support people at risk of suicide.

The Institute of Government & Public Policy has earned a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking health and social care conferences. Following the resounding success of the Third Annual National Suicide Prevention Conference 2023, we are proud to announce that “The Fourth National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024” with be taking place for the first time in London. This event will showcase the importance of a collaborative, multi-sector approach, where organisations pool their knowledge and resources to implement diverse interventions to prevent Suicide, including addressing risk factors such as self-harm.

Join us for the Fourth National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024: Collaboration and Early Intervention, which will explore successful examples of multi-sector examples of how partnerships can strategically work together to prevent Suicide.