Cardiff and Vale UHB commits to working collaboratively to prevent suicide and self-harm with new strategy
The new Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Strategy for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan commits organisations to work together to support all those affected or at risk, by offering ‘the right support, at the right time, in the right way for everyone’.
In 2020, it was reported that 32 people took their own lives in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, which is more than twice as many people who lost their lives in road accidents. Between 2017 and 2019, there were 2,691 emergency hospital admissions related to self-harm of residents in the area.
But suicide and self-harm are preventable. Evidence has shown that when organisations work together to ensure those at risk get the support that’s right for them quickly, we can reduce these harms across the population. The Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Strategy, published on 15 November, was developed with support from organisations across the area including those from the NHS, local government, the third sector, advocacy groups and service users themselves. All of these partners are committed to making this vision a reality.
Fiona Kinghorn, Executive Director of Public Health for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “Every suicide is a tragedy. Every instance of self-harm can have a long lasting emotional and psychological effect on individuals, those who care for them and everyone around them. Organisations across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have worked together to create a truly collaborative strategy that recognises the specific needs of the population we serve and details evidence-based actions to make a difference. We look forward to working together with real focus and commitment to deliver this strategy for the people of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.”
The strategy, which runs to 2024, is aligned with Wales’ national Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Strategy. It builds on the previous Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan strategy for 2017-20, during which time rates of suicide remained stable and in line with national rates. It was also reported that rates of emergency admission for self-harm fell each year, a pattern not seen in other parts of Wales.
The new strategy includes an action plan that details the specific ways in which it will be delivered across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan over the next three years. The 26 actions include implementing consistent and high-quality training for those working with people at risk, addressing specific needs for those in the area’s many diverse communities, and improving support for carers and those bereaved by suicide.