Samaritans response to today's ONS report on Prevention of Future Deaths reports for suicide in England and Wales

Responding to today’s ONS figures on Prevention of Future Deaths reports for suicide in England and Wales (Jan 2021 to October 2022), Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director, Policy, Practice & Influencing, said:

“Suicide is preventable and this ONS report shines a light on the multiple missed instances of people in England and Wales not getting the care and attention they deserved, when they needed it most.

“Families have lost loved ones, including parents, partners, siblings, and children when they shouldn’t have – suicide is complex, but it is clearly unacceptable that poor documentation and monitoring or lack of adequate staff training has contributed to deaths.

“It’s hugely concerning that these common themes are consistently emerging and there’s no evidence to suggest this will improve without urgent, deliberate action. 

“The government’s much anticipated Suicide Prevention Strategy must address these failings directly to ensure future opportunities to intervene are not missed and to avoid further preventable deaths by suicide.”  

Ends