IUCSF have been members for the Advisory Group for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy since being invited to join in March 2009.
July 19th, 2011 the Government released the new strategy(original strategy was introduced in 2002) The responses to the consultation period which finished on October 2011 will now be reviewed. IUCSF are actually mentioned in the new strategy on page on as a “Helpful resource”on page 44 along with Mental Health Matters who co produced the “The Road Ahead”. (support booklet written by IUCSF & families touched by suicide- see support).
The strategy aims to reduce the number of suicides in this country. As a charity we are particularly pleased that our supporters for to raised awareness to the importance of support for people bereaved by suicide and this is now included within the strategy.
The charities push to have support recognised as necessary to bereaved by suicide, statred back in October 2006 when Shirley & Dean Smith originally met with Professor Louis Appleby. Professor Appleby later invited Shirley to join the advisory group for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy , of which he was Chair. The group featured leading professionals & specialists in the field of suicide and mental health, as well as representatives from the larger Mental Health charities.
In July this year Shirley Smith & Julie Garner (Shirley’s sister) were invited with three other bereaved families, two of which have set up charities in memory of their loved ones and to prevent suicide - Mrs Clare Milford Haven.(www.jwsmf.org) who lost her beautiful Son, James to suicide in December, 2006 & Mr & Mrs Elveridge, who lost their beautiful Son, Matthew died in 2009 (www.matthewelvidgetrust.com). Stephen Abell & Ged Flynn from Suicide Prevention Charity PAPYRUS www.papyrus-org. were also there. They all met with Minister Paul Burstow to talk about suicide and the impact it has and the introduction of the new draft for the Suicide Prevention Strategy. We await the outcome of the consultation feedback.
The strategy can be viewed at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_128463.pdf
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