Suicide prevention work across Berkshire
Suicide prevention is an important element of our work in promoting good mental health and wellbeing in Slough. The number of deaths by suicide in Slough between 2016-2018 was 14; 12 males and 2 females. More men take their own lives than women and this is a national trend.
Suicide affects all our communities and has a big impact on families and friends. For every one death by suicide, ten people are affected, although some research indicates that three times as many people are impacted by the death of a friend, family member or colleague.
The NHS Five Year Forward View for Mental Health sets a target on all NHS agencies and partners to reduce the current level of suicide by 10% by 2020. The 2012 national strategy (‘Preventing Suicide in England’) sets us two major Objectives: reducing the suicide rate in England, and giving better support to people bereaved or affected by suicide. Those objectives are thus given priority in this strategy.
As a result, in 2014, the seven Berkshire CCGs and six local authority public health teams across Berkshire began refreshed the 2017/18 suicide audits previously undertaken and to recommend from this a strategy for reducing suicide risk across Berkshire. This strategy is the result of a study of national research and recommendations plus recommendations of many local stakeholders from a range of organisations to showcase suicide prevention work across Berkshire by local authority public health teams and other stakeholders.
For more details, please read the following documents:
Suicide prevention guidance
The Slough Public Health team and Slough Safeguarding Partnership have created some guidance for practitioners to support adults, young people and children at risk of suicide ideation. The guidance includes warning signs, procedures to follow, general principles on working with suicidal service users and a list of services that can help. This advice could also be useful for anyone to know the signs.