London, October 10
For the first time, the UK will have a minister for suicide prevention to reduce the number of people who take their own lives.
The move, intended to tackle the tragedy of 4,500 people taking their own lives in England each year, comes on World Mental Health Day.
British PM Theresa May said the appointment of Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price to the additional role will help tackle the stigma surrounding suicide.
“We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence. We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives. And we can give the mental wellbeing of our children the priority it so profoundly deserves,” May said in a statement.
“We are not looking after our health if we are not looking after our mental health. So we need true parity between physical and mental health — and not just in our health systems — but in our classrooms, workplaces and communities too,” she said.
The new portfolio, Minister for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention, will involve leading a new national effort on suicide prevention. As part of other measures announced by the UK government to mark World Mental Health Day, new funding of up to 1.8 million pounds will help ensure the Samaritans charity helpline remains free and can continue to provide immediate and lifesaving support to everyone who needs it, 24 hours a day. — PTI
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