Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed local investment to support people experiencing suicidal thoughts or approaching a mental health crisis. Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum Charitable Trust is one of 79 charities across England shortlisted to receive funding to deliver suicide prevention activities as part of the Government’s plan to make healthcare services faster, simpler, and fairer.
The £8,000 investment in Wolverhampton is part of a £10 million boost for organisations working to prevent suicides through the Government’s Suicide Prevention Grant Fund (2023-2025) for voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations that deliver suicide prevention activity. This will expand access to support services across every region in the country, including in the areas with the highest rates of suicide.
Both national charities and small community-led charities, which provide tailored support for local areas, will receive new funding to support people with their mental health. The Samaritans will receive a grant of £530,000 towards supporting its 24/7 helpline services and wider innovative suicide prevention activities. Many charities will deliver services through partnerships to ensure joined-up support for those at risk.
The new funding is in recognition of the role of voluntary organisations in suicide prevention. It supports them in meeting increased demand for suicide prevention services or delivering a range of diverse and innovative activity that help to prevent self-harm and suicide in England. It will help them to embed preventative activity that prevent suicides and stem the flow into crisis services. This represents an important milestone in the Suicide Prevention Strategy, which sets out the Government’s actions to prevent self-harm and suicide, saving lives. Funds will begin to be distributed from April.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Suicide prevention is a key priority, so I welcome this £10 million investment to sustain and expand access to support services. Having suffered from poor mental health as a result of injuries sustained during my time in the Army, I know the value that these support services can have. I am delighted this new funding will support a range of diverse and innovative activities, helping to prevent harm-self and suicides at national and community levels - including through Wolverhampton’s Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum. The joined-up support that they provide is vital to reach those at risk. Together with the other organisations being funded, this investment will help to ensure that they can support more people.”
Minister for Mental Health Maria Caulfield said: “Every suicide is a tragedy which leaves a terrible mark on the families and communities affected. Non-profit organisations play a hugely important role in supporting people with their mental health and preventing suicide in England. This new funding will support people who need it the most and build on the brilliant work happening across the country on suicide prevention.”
This grant builds on the record sums of money the Government has invested to transform and expand NHS mental health services as well as the successes of a previous grant fund of £5.4 million in 2021/22 that supported over 100 voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations to prevent suicide in high-risk groups. Through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is investing £57 million in suicide prevention by March 2024 in all areas of the country to support the delivery of local suicide prevention plans, which address the specific needs of their populations.