The National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) is an alliance of public, private and voluntary organisations in England who care about suicide prevention and are willing to take individual and collective action to reduce suicide and support those bereaved or affected by suicide. (http://www.nspa.org.uk/)

Today I attended a conference organised by them. The room was filled with people who care. Here are some of the highlights as seen from my eyes:

1. Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health sent his apologies and a recorded message that said all the right things, unconvincingly. (Yes. I am a cynic.)
2. Professor Louis Appleby (Professor of Psychiatry, University of Manchester. Chair, National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group. Department of Health) talked about National Strategy and emphasised that every component of the strategy has to line up in order to impact everyday lives of people. The 5 main points on the strategy were: Local Suicide Prevention plans a must for all Local councils; a sound policy on self-harm; special attention to middle aged men, mental health patients and prisoners, better data collection and bereavement support.

He proposed that if the data was looked at differently, it could mean that the suicide rates were on a decline. Hence, the rising rate of suicide argument may not work. However, we know that suicides are grossly under-reported. So, this statement reminded me that at the end of the day he is an academic and while he does brilliant work, part of his job is playing with numbers.

(Statistics are used by some as something to lean on rather than to illuminate.)

3. Rt. Honorable Norman Lamb MP for North Norfolk was the speaker with most conviction and the biggest vision. I am so proud that he is the Patron of the charity I work with, PAPYRUS. He spoke of leadership, immediate investigation of deaths so valuable lessons can be learnt before the facts get fudged and forgotten, GP training and same day referrals of patients with depression to specialist services, stop sending patients out of the area for in-patient care and provide meaningful patient support in the community. He set out a clear ambition of – Zero Suicide. He was the only one in the room who stated:  “Death toll from suicide is intolerably high.”  There is hope.

To be continued tomorrow.