This week I joined my parliamentary colleagues in signing the Samaritan’s Christmas Pledge to support suicide prevention in 2018.
A lot of progress has been made in 2017 to keep suicide prevention high up the political agenda with an inquiry report being published by the Health Select Committee and leading professionals welcoming the Government’s Green Paper on children and young person’s mental health.
However, with nearly 6,000 deaths by suicide in the UK each year, more needs to be done. A lot of this work can be done via legislation to increase the infrastructure of support available for those in need but in our day to day lives everyone can make a difference. If you come across anyone who you believe is suffering with poor mental health then the first step can be to simply talk to them and offer your support, as those at risk are most vulnerable when they feel alone.
The Samaritans do fantastic work all year round, including on Christmas Day. If you need to talk to them, they’re always there for you, so please call 116 123.