Recommendation 39

Preventing the worst mental health outcomes means first creating the conditions across society that are conducive to good mental health and wellbeing. We welcome the support provided by the former Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health to a ‘cross-governmental’ strategy to prevent the worst mental health outcomes for children and young people as well as her recognition that mental health should not be only the concern of the Department of Health and Social Care. The complex, multifaceted nature of the causes of suicide and self-harm necessitates a public health approach to suicide prevention that involves cooperation between Government departments, local government, education and the care sector. Given that self-harm is often used as a coping mechanism for other forms of severe emotional distress, the wider points made on public mental health in Chapter 1 of this Report will also help to prevent it.