Agenda item

In 2020 both BCP Council and Dorset Council, Partners, Public Health Dorset and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group established a multi-agency Pan Dorset suicide prevention programme (SP) as part of the national SP programme.

This report provides an update on the six key workstreams within the pan-Dorset programme and also progress on BCP Council’s own Suicide prevention plan, one year since publication.

Overall, there has been significant progress in promoting suicide prevention and wider mental wellbeing agendas through communications, training and support services.

Some areas of work have been hampered by the pandemic and other factors. A new national strategy is anticipated later this year and plans locally will need to be reviewed in light of these through the Suicide Prevention Steering Group and Council’s Corporate Management Board.

The Director of Adult Social Care Commissioning (Interim), Principal Programme Lead, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, Assistant Director of Public Health presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.  The Committee was also provided with a PowerPoint presentation.

In 2020 both BCP Council and Dorset Council, Partners, Public Health Dorset, and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group established a multi-agency Pan Dorset suicide prevention programme (SP) as part of the national SP programme.

The report provided an update on the six key workstreams within the pan-Dorset programme and progressed BCP Council’s own Suicide prevention plan, one year since publication.

Overall, there had been significant progress in promoting suicide prevention and wider mental wellbeing agendas through communications, training, and support services.

Some areas of work had been hampered by the pandemic and other factors. A new national strategy was anticipated later this year and plans locally would need to be reviewed considering these through the Suicide Prevention Steering Group and Council’s Corporate Management Board.

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Active Health advised that he received a briefing and had been involved with the programme for a while and wanted to highlight his support for the Suicide Prevention programme.  He highlighted the complexities of what was involved and how pleased that talking about suicide prevention was becoming more open with frank discussions really welcomed.

The Committee discussed the report and presentation and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query, warm transfer was explained as being connected on the phone straight to an appropriate organisation/service
• The Vice Chair thanked everyone involved and agreed that this had been a stigmatised topic for too long
• In response to a query regarding the real time surveillance data the Committee was advised of the issues surrounding collecting it, however, were informed some insights had been made from 18 months of good data. This could be shared with the Committee at some point, however the sharing of such sensitive information needed to be approached with caution. 
• In response to when the data could be shared, the Committee was advised that there was some data available until November last year which could be shared if helpful. ACTION.

·       The Chairman of the Council provided a very detailed contribution to Committee on his own personal experiences with losing a loved-one to suicide. His statement included many references to the services that were on offer to the individual in question whilst outlining the benefits, challenges, difficulties, and failings of many of these services. The Committee heard that the Chairman was in full support of report and noted Workstream 6 2.12, as referenced in the report, and hoped that this would be achieved quickly. The Chairman also referred to the High Sheriff’s Project “Harmony in Dorset”, being worked upon by Bournemouth University, of which he hoped to be increasingly involved with as Chairman of BCP Council.

·       A Committee Member highlighted their chosen charities when they were the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and the work those charities undertook and requested that the Officers worked closely with those charities.  In response an Officer advised that strong partnership work was ongoing.

• In response to a query regarding the mental health first aid training and suicide first aid training it was noted that the length ranged depending on whether it was instructor or management training.  The Talk for All, skills development was highlighted to destigmatise and provide listening and awareness skills to widest audience possible. ACTION – share further information with the Committee.

·       In response to a query regarding whether hospitals kept data of suicide attempts, the Committee was advised that the acute hospital did record reason for presenting but not necessarily that it was a suicide attempt, partly because the hospital deals with the presenting issues.  It was acknowledged that further work needed to be undertaken in this area

• A Committee Member enquired whether data could be pulled together regarding the reasons of attempted suicide, in response the Committee was advised of the main reasons which included relationships breaking down, housing issues, loss of long-term partners and long-term illness. Drug, alcohol, and mental health issues were also highlighted within the data.
• In response to a concern regarding collecting data from hospitals, the Committee was advised that there were gaps in recording and the difficulties with hospital coding, it was a conversation that was being had with partners to ensure the data collected was accurate.  It was noted that there was a big difference between people who attempt to harm themselves and those who succeed to commit suicide, and some of the differences were highlighted to the Committee.

·       The Zero Suicide Alliance was highlighted as a good source of information, it was advised that anyone could sign up to it and it aimed to equip people with the basic knowledge surrounding suicide. ACTION – send link to Committee Members

·       The Committee was advised of the places available for people in crisis to call and it was noted that the Z card had information on it

·       A Committee Member highlighted how the Council offices and numbers were not easily accessible and the Committee was reassured that the connection number, which could be accessed through 111, would then be followed by a warm transfer.  The reason why there was also a different number was from feedback from those with lived in experience who requested a separate telephone number

·       In response to a query about young people and mental health, the Committee was advised there was direct work with Bournemouth Universities to create some type of retreat for students in crisis and ensure pathways were quick and accessible.  Some of the issues were highlighted but work to develop a suicide strategy with them and CAMHS was ongoing and really focused on the young adults.

·       The Chair requested that the new National Strategy be put on the Forward Plan for later in the year with plans needing to be reviewed once published. ACTION – add to Forward Plan

RESOLVED that

(a)           Councillors comment on and scrutinise the content of the progress report.

(b)           To note that a new national strategy is expected this year and that plans will need to be reviewed once published.