Samaritans and Suffolk MP call for suicide prevention funds

The NHS Long Term Plan allocated £57 million for suicide prevention and bereavement services to local areas in England which went out in 'waves' so each area received money for three years. 

But now Samaritans says that by March next year this funding pot will have ended, prompting calls for 'ringfenced local suicide prevention funding' to be included in the upcoming National Suicide Prevention Strategy. 

Anna Berridge, branch director at Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk Samaritans (Image: Samaritans)

Suffolk recorded 77 suicides in 2022, compared with 67 in 2021.

The 77 figure is the joint second highest in the county since 2001, with the highest number being in 2020 when there were 81 deaths.

Anna Berridge, branch director at Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk Samaritans, said: "Samaritans vision is that fewer people die by suicide.

"Here in Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk we answered over 22,000 calls from people in distress last year.

"Every ten seconds Samaritan volunteers respond to a call for help. To keep these phone lines open we need funding.

"Suicide prevention funding that local communities in England rely on is ending at the same time as the Government has committed to reduce suicide rates through their new national strategy. This makes no sense. 

"When life is difficult we are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call for free on 116123 or email jo@samaritans.org," she added.

Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Image: Newsquest)

Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said: "Whilst I understand that difficult funding decisions sometimes have to be made which require choices between equally as important things, I hope, and would urge the government to find the money to support this important service for people who are in extreme distress and considering ending their own lives."

Samaritans say that by March next year the funding pot will be empty (Image: File image)

A petition has been launched to support the Samaritans calls for funding.