East Midlands Academic Health Science Network

Our work in suicide prevention

The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network has developed a simple statement of purpose: “Igniting innovation: bringing together the NHS, universities, industry, and social care to transform the health of our 4.5 million East Midlands residents and stimulate wealth creation.”

This aligns with the NHS Constitution: “The transformation of patient access, experiences and outcomes at the earliest opportunity through innovation and enterprise, working at the limits of science, bringing the highest level of human knowledge and skill to save lives and improve health.”

The East Midlands Patient Safety Collaborative (EM PSC) undertook a stakeholder engagement and scoping exercise across the East Midlands (EM) region to gain an understanding of existing patient safety initiatives, partner priorities in relation to patient safety and stakeholder views on how the Collaborative should operate. From this engagement suicide was identified as a priority.

Respondents indicated that the EM PSC could best add value to existing work in this area by capturing learning and sharing lessons learned. The EMAHSN is actively working in supporting approaches and interventions aligned with the national suicide prevention strategy. Though its connections across the east midlands and wider the EMAHSN is working to connect, support, influence and where indicated innovate. The work is underpinned by evidence based improvement methodologies.

Our current priorities

Suicide is not only a tragic loss but also profoundly impacts many lives. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy provides guidance on approaches and interventions, highlighting the importance of promoting awareness and fostering a belief that effective strategies can make a difference. Many individuals who die by suicide (30–45%) will have had contact with local surgeries prior to the event. However, specific awareness and response training for primary care staff and GPs is limited. We aim to explore the feasibility and sustainability of suicide awareness and response training focused on a GP surgery perspective, while also evaluating its impact.

The value of learning from events to benefit communities and care providers is widely recognised. Despite this, many deaths by suicide are not audited or reviewed in depth by primary care, unlike suicides within secondary mental health care, where robust root cause analysis reviews are conducted. There is a tendency to examine suicide events in silos rather than through a multi-agency approach. EMAHSN plans to explore the potential for post-event reviews based in surgeries, enabling those who had contact with the individual to meet, discuss, and identify potential learning opportunities.

The Patient Safety Collaborative (PSC) has already supported three local conferences across the East Midlands to facilitate the sharing and dissemination of information, learning, and experiences. This approach will continue to ensure knowledge is widely shared.

We also aim to explore the possibility of suicide awareness training in industrial and commercial settings. Targeting individuals at risk could be achieved through increased awareness and understanding in these environments, and we are looking into developing this approach further.

Through the Clinical Advisor role, we will offer support, guidance, and expertise to the five areas of the East Midlands—Derby and Derbyshire; Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland; Nottingham and Nottinghamshire; Northampton and Northamptonshire; and Lincoln and Lincolnshire. This will include attending meetings where possible, sharing skills, knowledge, and experience, and ensuring effective communication to enhance local suicide prevention strategies.

Our current challenges

Suicide and its prevention are shaped by a complex interplay between an individual and the circumstances they face. Rarely, if ever, is there a single causal factor in an individual’s suicide. As such, addressing suicide is a responsibility that extends across the whole of society and is not solely the domain of health or social care services. This challenge is set against a backdrop of societal changes and stressors that can influence an individual’s mental wellbeing.

A person’s beliefs and fears can significantly impact their willingness and ability to share their feelings or seek help when experiencing suicidal thoughts. This is further influenced by the beliefs, stigma, and understanding of those who may encounter someone in distress. Raising awareness and understanding is crucial to empowering individuals and society to make a meaningful difference. It is essential to ensure that, when statutory support is required, the care provided is of the highest quality, informed by current evidence and delivered within the available resources.