Government boosts suicide prevention fund for charity sector
The government has relaunched a £10m fund so charities can work with the NHS to provide life-saving suicide prevention services.
Charities in communities across England can now apply for the latest round of funding from the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund.
The fund aims to ensure people can access the support and prevention services they need, when they need it, and help prevent people reaching crisis point.
A previous fund of £5.4m in 2021 to 2022 supported more than 100 organisations within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Successful bidders subsequently said the fund helped meet increased demand for their services after the pandemic.
Health and social care secretary, Steve Barclay, said: ‘Too many lives are sadly lost to suicide and my sympathy goes out to those affected by its truly devastating impacts.
‘We’re already urgently investing record sums of money to transform and expand NHS mental health services, but the voluntary suicide prevention sector is such an important part of the support on offer and this multi-million pound fund recognises the work it carries out alongside the NHS.
‘I encourage charities to apply for this funding so they can continue to save lives, tackle taboos and make a real difference to so many people.’
Ged Flynn, chief executive of suicide-prevention charity Papyrus, which previously received funding under the scheme, said: ‘Funding is vital if we are to continue giving hope to children and young people who are struggling with life, and we welcome the government’s contribution which will go some way to help.
‘The services we offer are underpinned by voluntary income; kind donations, fundraising and public support. That generosity funds our confidential HOPELINE247 service which allows our professional suicide prevention advisers to keep young people safe.
‘We also rely on voluntary income to help us engage with local communities on suicide prevention initiatives across the UK, offer training to groups and individual and support a network of volunteers who have lived experience of suicide.’
Suicide is the biggest cause of death in both men and women under the age of 35 in the UK, with a noticeable increase in the last decade in the number of suicides among women under the age of 25.
NHS crisis lines receive 200,000 calls per month and Samaritans reports receiving over 10,000 calls per day on average.
The government said the latest round of funding could be used by charities to boost capacity in crisis helplines, provide signposting to services, launch campaigns targeted at specific at-risk groups like young men, and support families who have experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one by suicide.
Later this year the government plans to publish a new national suicide prevention strategy that will set out further actions and commitments.
Professor Sir Louis Appleby, national adviser on the suicide prevention strategy, said: ‘Charities play a critical role in preventing suicide and today’s launch of the grant fund will support their vital work. Given the pressures facing the sector, I hope all eligible organisations will consider bidding for funding.’
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