In 2018 there were 6154 confirmed suicides in Great Britain (although Samaritans figures are higher than what I have from ONS 2019) more than 16 people a day (10-25 times this amount make attempts on their life in addition to the deaths by suicide). In the same year there were 1784 road traffic accident deaths in Great Britain. The latter is important to put this into perspective; because there is a lot of government investment and strategies into preventing road traffic accidents but what investment is there into suicide prevention when there are more than 3 times the amount of suicides than road traffic deaths!?

Mental Health services are severely under staffed and under funded, medical staff including GP’s are not well educated about mental health and illnesses and proper recognition, diagnosis and treatment are, in a lot of cases, non existent! I personally have done a 7 day mental health first aid instructor course and feel I know a lot more than the average GP. I have talked about certain terms and issues and my GP has looked at me blank and questioned what I mean! It’s just not good enough! Without the proper services available how can we reduce the number of deaths by suicide! Suicide is THE most preventable cause of death - but it takes for a whole society of understanding, awareness, support and good mental health services!

We all have mental health, and in my opinion, physical and mental health should not be separated into two different categories - it should just be HEALTH - you cannot have good health without either and both physical and mental health are integral to one another, the line between the two is very thin! As well as investing in mental health services we need an investment into developing a positive culture and society around mental health awareness and the ways in which we can all protect our own mental wellbeing as well as support others and recognises signs of mental illness.

Children’s mental health services are also severely under funded, which is a huge problem considering around 75% of mental illnesses start before the age of 18 and that early identification, support and intervention is crucial for long term recovery. 

Theres so much information in books, online, NICE guidelines etc, regarding the correct support and treatment that should be sought - but getting what you need is as rare as gold dust!

Mental illnesses are on the rise in this pressured modern world and the rates of suicide are only going to continue increasing if we do not take action now!