Social media is to be considered as suicide risk factor for the first time as part of a new mental health strategy, ministers say.
They said stronger action was needed to tackle a “changing pattern of risk” for those growing up today, with increasing concern about “misleading and dangerous online content that encourages and facilitates eating disorders, self-harm and suicide”.
Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said: “As society changes there are new emerging risks which may have a detrimental effect on mental health, particularly for children and young people.
“It is a startling fact that one person dies by suicide in the UK every 90 minutes. We know from research, coroner reports, the voluntary sector and the police that the internet is playing an increasing role in individual suicides.
“Online harms, including bullying, which can be linked to use of social media, also have potentially damaging consequences.
Mr Javid has launched a “call for evidence” ahead of a 10-year mental health strategy to be published later this year.
Officials said it will be accompanied by an updated suicide prevention strategy amid concern about the toll of the pandemic on the nation’s wellbeing.
‘Changing pattern of risk’
The last plan to prevent suicides in England was written a decade ago and an updated strategy will consider the “changing pattern of risk”, they said, with gambling also set to fall under the spotlight.
It comes as demand for mental health services is at a record high, with more than 4 million referrals to specialist services, including 1 million for children.
The plan will assess how local services, including schools, housing associations, social care, workplaces, job centres and youth centres, can provide earlier help to prevent people’s problems from becoming worse.
Mr Javid said: “The pandemic put unprecedented pressure on people across the country. While we continue to expand and transform our mental health services under the NHS Long Term Plan to meet rising demand, we know we need to go further.”
Evidence gathered will also help inform the development of a separate National Suicide Prevention Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care said.
In 2020 there were 5,224 suicides in England and Wales, with three quarters of these deaths among men.
Prof Louis Appleby, who advises the Government on its National Suicide Prevention Strategy, said: “A new plan for suicide prevention is a chance to reflect the changing pattern of risk, on issues such as online safety and gambling.”
“It’s a chance to renew our vigilance and reinvigorate the efforts of the people we depend on – bereaved families, charities, professionals and many more. It’s a chance to ensure that suicide prevention is built into our recovery from Covid and to set the priorities for action for the next few years.”
‘Real opportunities to save lives’
Mubeen Bhutta, head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Samaritans, said: “Suicide is preventable and the refreshed suicide prevention strategy and next 10-year mental health plan are real opportunities to save lives and make sure we learn lessons from previous approaches.
“The long-term impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic is likely to play out over many years and so it is vital that we have a well-planned strategy to ensure that mental health and suicide prevention are considered just as important as physical health to the wellbeing of the nation.”
Charities and MPs have urged ministers to improve access to talking therapies, including an expansion of specialist nurses based in GP practices.
It follows warnings that referrals to talking therapies by GPs have fallen by 33 per cent since the pandemic, despite a near-doubling in levels of depression since the first lockdown.
