World Suicide Prevention Day
Debate between Jessica Morden and Liz Twist(3 weeks, 5 days ago)
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Liz Twist
Having done some work with the construction sector, I know exactly what my hon. Friend is talking about and how much attention must be paid to that issue.
Sadly, my region, the north-east, has the highest number of deaths by suicide. That is not a league table that we want to top. The latest figures put the north-east’s rate at 15.1 deaths per 100,000 people. For men who have been referred to secondary mental health services, it climbs to 157.8 per 100,000. That harsh reality demands urgent, targeted intervention.
Whenever we see such statistics in Parliament, we must immediately remind ourselves that there are real people behind the numbers. Each one of those individuals whose life was cut short leaves behind a devastating legacy of grief. The ripple effect of a single suicide spreads relentlessly through families, circles of friends and workplaces, and inflicts severe social and emotional consequences on entire communities.
Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)
Like everyone else, I acknowledge the tremendous work that my hon. Friend does on this issue; it is inspirational. Since she mentions families, I want to take the opportunity to thank my constituent Emma Webb, who tragically lost her daughter, Brodie, aged just 16. My hon. Friend is aware of Emma, who has spent years tirelessly fundraising for and raising awareness of suicide prevention. Alongside the bands doing a benefit for the Samaritans in the pub, there is a lot of work going on locally that we should acknowledge.