A good first step

Abstract

The UK Government's appointment of Jackie Doyle-Price to the newly created role of Minister for Suicide Prevention marks a welcome development in the approach to an area of some concern. While suicide rates have fallen heavily in the UK since the Office for National Statistics began keeping records in 1981, almost no progress has been made in suicide rate reduction during 2007–17, with the overall suicide rate rising from 10·0 deaths per 100 000 to 10·1 deaths per 100 000. Doyle-Price, the world's first-ever Minister for Suicide Prevention, will be adding this role to a busy portfolio. She is already Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health and Inequalities under new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock. There are, as yet, few specifics regarding the aim and content of her role. Suicide prevention is a complex topic, and arguably touches on areas as diverse as physical public infrastructure, economic prospects, and availability of services. When effective action in terms of prevention, such as free financial and employment advice or alcohol price control, come into conflict with other governmental departments, what then? With regards to availability, it is also positive to see the UK Government admit that wait times for service access under the National Health Service are currently unacceptable. NHS England's flagship Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme has been plagued by uneven waiting times of up to 4 months, dependent on location, and regional issues extend to inpatient bed access too. It is fair to say that Theresa May's Government often makes big policy announcements and then fails to offer the policy's stakeholders necessary financial muscle and legislative power to be able to fulfil any of their goals. So far, only £1·8 million has been pledged in support of the new role. With one big-ticket item dominating the British political agenda, all other policies have taken a back seat for over 2 years now. Government policy cannot continue to be all announcements and no substance. Doyle-Price needs the power and freedom to address the issue of suicide prevention. For Suicides in the UK: 2017 registrations see https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2017registrationsFor more on delays to seek mental health care in the UK see https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/26/mental-health-patients-seeking-treatment-face-postcode-lotteryFor more on the appointment of Doyle-Price as suicide prevention minister see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45804225 For Suicides in the UK: 2017 registrations see https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2017registrations For more on delays to seek mental health care in the UK see https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/26/mental-health-patients-seeking-treatment-face-postcode-lottery For more on the appointment of Doyle-Price as suicide prevention minister see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45804225