Department of Health
Central Government
Action Planned
The Department of Health highlights a Policy Research Programme investing in projects exploring the internet's role in suicidal behaviour and identifies priorities for prevention. It also mentions that the Royal College of Psychiatrists will recommend making competencies related to media impact compulsory in the next curriculum revision and launching an e-learning tool for children and young people's mental health. (AI summary)
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From the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP Secretary of State for Health Department of Health Richmond House 79 Whitehall London SWIA 2NS POC1 839561 Tel: 020 7210 3000 Mary Hassell Mb-sofs@dh-gsi-gov.uk Senior Coroner inner North London district St Pancras Coroner's Court Camley Street LONDON NIC 4PP 3 MAR 2014, Dev Ms . (hJue(l Thank you for your letter of 30 January about the inquest into the death of 15 year old Tallulah Wilson who jumped in front of a train, her own life. In summarising your findings, you raised concerns about improved clinical practice and training of healthcare professionals You noted that no person who gave evidence felt at the time wcrc for Tallulah, the health professionals involved had a enough understanding of the evolving way that the internet is used by young people. [ recognise the increasing importance of the role of media and in particular social media in the lives of young The first annual report on England'$ cross- government suicide prevention strategy, Preventing Suicide in England: One Year On was published on 17 January and noted that the Policy Research Programme is investing €1.5 million into six projects, one of which will explore the use of the internet in relation to suicidal behaviour and identifying priorities for prevention: This study is being undertaken by researchers at the University of Bristol, in partnership with Samaritans and Papyrus. The research started in October 2013,and is due to complete in March 2016. The aim of the research is to: a) provide detailed empirical evidence about use of the Internet for suicide-related purposes and how this beneficially and/ o detrimentally influences suicidal feelings and behaviour; b) use these findings to inform advice to policy makers, clinicians, voluntary sector organisations, and the Internet Industry; and identify potential interventions to be developed and future programmes of work with these groups. taking that; they - caring good people.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists As the body responsible for education; training, setting and raising standards in psychiatry, the College is heavily involved in both development of the government's suicide prevention strategy, and research to support it I have invited them to comment on the report into Tallulah's death: The College is involved in the National Suicide Prevention Alliance Working Group on the Online Environment; Over fifty national organisations have signed up to the Alliance; working together so that fewer lives are lost to suicide and to support those who are bereaved or affected by suicide; The Online Environment Working Group is looking at possible areas of work that the group could undertake relating to suicide and the online environment. The College lead for Public Mental Health; L has been working with NHS England, the British Transport Police and the railways board to; consider appropriate training; consider necessary evidence to improve clinical practice; and establish a systems-based health approach involving local authorities and trusts as well police, media; NGOs and the rail industry. Specifically on training on the role of media in the Child and Adolescent Curriculum, in the current (2013) curriculum for Higher Training, there is a selective Independent Learning Objective (ILO 19) on Public Health which includes ILO 19.4 "Promoting mental wellbeing and prevention of mental illness, including liaison with the media.' Within this ILO there is a post-Certificate of Completion of Training Mastery performance objective that includes "communication to the general 'public via public media" "awareness of the impact of media coverage on mental well-being and the responsibility of providing up to date accurate information and "ability to explain ideas to children, young people and their families and the media in a way that can understand. Although this is at present a non-compulsory of the curriculum; in light of the increasing use 0f,and issues surrounding, social media, the Child and Adolescent public complex they part
Department of Health Psychiatry Faculty will recommend to the Dean that these competencies are made compulsory in the next curriculum revision and recommended at pre-specialist registration stage. Finally, I believe that it is important that all professionals who work with children and young people have access to information about mental health: Norman Lamb, the Minister for Care Services, is launching an interactive e-learning tool for children and young people's mental health on 25 March: This is aimed at health professionals who are not necessarily mental health specialists, teachers, social workers and anyone working with children and young people. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is part of the consortium of organisations headed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health developing this exciting tool. The loss of a young person in such tragic circumstances is always a matter for concern; and ] am grateful to you for bringing the circumstances of Tallulah's death to my attention: 1 hope that this response is helpful Yus Jfawr] JEREMY HUNT
The Royal College of Psychiatrists As the body responsible for education; training, setting and raising standards in psychiatry, the College is heavily involved in both development of the government's suicide prevention strategy, and research to support it I have invited them to comment on the report into Tallulah's death: The College is involved in the National Suicide Prevention Alliance Working Group on the Online Environment; Over fifty national organisations have signed up to the Alliance; working together so that fewer lives are lost to suicide and to support those who are bereaved or affected by suicide; The Online Environment Working Group is looking at possible areas of work that the group could undertake relating to suicide and the online environment. The College lead for Public Mental Health; L has been working with NHS England, the British Transport Police and the railways board to; consider appropriate training; consider necessary evidence to improve clinical practice; and establish a systems-based health approach involving local authorities and trusts as well police, media; NGOs and the rail industry. Specifically on training on the role of media in the Child and Adolescent Curriculum, in the current (2013) curriculum for Higher Training, there is a selective Independent Learning Objective (ILO 19) on Public Health which includes ILO 19.4 "Promoting mental wellbeing and prevention of mental illness, including liaison with the media.' Within this ILO there is a post-Certificate of Completion of Training Mastery performance objective that includes "communication to the general 'public via public media" "awareness of the impact of media coverage on mental well-being and the responsibility of providing up to date accurate information and "ability to explain ideas to children, young people and their families and the media in a way that can understand. Although this is at present a non-compulsory of the curriculum; in light of the increasing use 0f,and issues surrounding, social media, the Child and Adolescent public complex they part
Department of Health Psychiatry Faculty will recommend to the Dean that these competencies are made compulsory in the next curriculum revision and recommended at pre-specialist registration stage. Finally, I believe that it is important that all professionals who work with children and young people have access to information about mental health: Norman Lamb, the Minister for Care Services, is launching an interactive e-learning tool for children and young people's mental health on 25 March: This is aimed at health professionals who are not necessarily mental health specialists, teachers, social workers and anyone working with children and young people. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is part of the consortium of organisations headed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health developing this exciting tool. The loss of a young person in such tragic circumstances is always a matter for concern; and ] am grateful to you for bringing the circumstances of Tallulah's death to my attention: 1 hope that this response is helpful Yus Jfawr] JEREMY HUNT