New group aims to reduce suicides in North Lincolnshire

May 16, 2014

News Type:  Weekly Spark, Weekly Spark News

The Scunthorpe Telegraph

In North Lincolnshire, a borough hit with a high number of suicide deaths last year, an ad hoc coalition has been formed to learn about the deaths and strengthen the network of suicide prevention resources in the area. The group includes the borough’s coroner and its director of public health, as well as representatives from local government and the medical community. Frances Cunning, chair of the group, said “We need to find out what is causing people to feel such despair and see if there is anything that the agencies can do to prevent further deaths.” The group will focus on how agencies can intervene early to prevent further deaths, and will review recent suicide deaths to identify patterns which may help any intervention. In accordance with the UK’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, the group’s plan includes a focus on high-risk groups and on reducing access to lethal means.

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