Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing

The Board considered a report and presentation of the Director of Adult Services and Housing regarding the update on the Coventry and Warwickshire Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022 – 2030 and the positive actions as a result of the Suicide Prevention workstream.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Suicide Prevention Strategy was developed in collaboration with partners, key stakeholders and Coventry and Warwickshire residents.  A delivery plan had been drafted aligned to the 5 strategic priorities, focusing on how we collaborate with partners, identify gaps and opportunities and how suicide prevention is embedded as a system priority.

Real Time Surveillance of Suspected Suicides allowed officers to have real time data of anyone who died by suspected suicide.  The process was coroner led and the Real Time Surveillance Co-ordinator worked with the data to identify clusters, trends and any concerns.  Annual events had been held to showcase the work of partners, locally, regionally and nationally to enable collaboration and strengthen partnership working.  Other Suicide Prevention activity included commissioning system wide Suicide Prevention training, quarterly suicide prevention network meetings, supporting workplace wellbeing forums, attending community events, raising awareness of suicide prevention and risk within key workstreams.

High risk and vulnerable groups had been identified through the strategy work and targeted interventions and focused worked was required to ensure all communities had access to support.

The Cabinet Member for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, Councillor K Caan, highlighted the positive vision the strategy set out whilst ensuring community access to information, support and services.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillor L Bigham, referred to those in isolated communities who were often alone and holding confidences for others.  She advised her portfolio had been looking into loneliness and the ability for people to talk about their feelings, both of which were important elements of the strategy.

Members of the Scrutiny Board, having considered the content of the report and presentation, asked questions and received information from officers on the following matters:

• There were many reasons Coroners reports took time however, within the system, there were ways to identify where there was a potential suicide risk and the risk of further suicides.
• Data by profession was collected although the information given was only ‘employed’, ‘not employed’ or ‘part-time’.  Occupation could not be pinpointed unless it was stated on a sudden death form.
• Coventry and Warwick Universities sat on the steering group and strong links had been made with Warwick University in particular, which had a health and wellbeing team in place.  International students were high priority and awareness campaigns and training rolled out.  Officers worked with mental health teams on talks in schools and some schools had paid for specialist staff training.  Support also existed through the suicide bereavement service.
• Real time surveillance was fairly new and a local picture was still emerging however, Coventry was similar to the national picture, although below national average.  Coventry had a slightly higher suicide rate in females than regionally or nationally.
• Age UK was a part of the network and information was held on the www.dearlife.org.uk website for the older population.

The Board requested:

·  The presentation be sent out to all Members along with the link to www.dearlife.org.uk

·  All Members attend the suicide prevention training in January 2025.

·  Officers to ensure Age UK have the right resources in place to assist with suicide prevention

RESOLVED that the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5):

1)  Note the progress made to date and share any comments with the relevant Cabinet Member regarding the delivery of the strategy.

2)  Raise awareness of Suicide Prevention activity across Coventry and Warwickshire and understand the importance of signposting to support services and organisations.

3)  Encourage partners, residents and Members to undertake suicide prevention training and access information.