Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director of Policy, Practice and Influencing at Samaritans, said:
“Today’s autumn budget was a crucial opportunity for the Government to keep their manifesto promise to reduce lives lost to suicide and tackle the biggest killer of people under 35. But without any dedicated funding for the national suicide prevention strategy, this simply will not happen.
“With suicide rates at their highest level in over 20 years, Samaritans has called on the government to properly invest in suicide prevention and yet this government has remained silent. Saving lives doesn't cost a fortune but it can't be done for free and unless urgent action is taken, lives will continue to be lost."
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