Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

Action plan updated in 2008 to reinforce the „combined approach‟ (CSIP,2007, Pg 16) which focused on both primary prevention and secondaryprevention to support individuals/groups at risk of suicide.From the needs assessment in the last six years there has been a notable increasein the rate of hospital admissions from suicide/self-harm, particularly in young womenand there is a strong social gradient associated with this for both sexes. The RoyalCollege of Psychiatrists produced a position statement No health without publicmental health the case for action (RCP, 2010). The paper urges the Government toprioritise public mental health as part of their public health policy on the basis thatmental illness is the largest single source of burden of disease in the UK withphysical health being inextricably linked to mental health. The statementrecommends that: „In order to address health inequalities it is essential thatinterventions are targeted at those people who are less likely to benefit from universalapproaches and are at higher risk‟ and „A suicide prevention strategy should remain agovernment priority and should include strategies to address and reduce theincidence of self-harm‟.Dudley‟s Mental Health Promotion Plan for 2006-2009 (Birdi et al, 2006) includedsuicide prevention as one of the 8 priority areas identified for local action andsupported working links across both agendas. Currently a new mental healthpromotion plan is being developed in line with the new national mental healthstrategy New Horizons (Great Britain. Department of Health, 2009c) and will continueto reflect work on this important health issue and address inequalities.A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to promoting mental health andpreventing suicide is advocated and will contribute significantly to progress thisagenda, by reducing the potential for suicide in key risk groups such as: young men,offenders, victims and survivors of abuse, looked after children, new mothers, Asianwomen, asylum seekers, older people, people who are bereaved by suicide andpeople from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) communities.Next Steps for Dudley will be to set up a multi-disciplinary Strategic SuicidePrevention Group in line with the refreshed National Suicide Prevention Strategy forEngland (Great Britain. Department of Health, 2002) to carry this work forward. Keyrecommendations from the NHS West Midlands Regional Development Centre(O‟Hara, 2009) identify a need to focus on:Collaborative and joined up workingProfiling the mental health and wellbeing needs of the local populationsData and information supportWorkforce development177