IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Money and Mental Health responds to new government suicide prevention strategy

11 September 2023

Today the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published its new suicide prevention strategy. The strategy includes plans to address the impact of financial difficulty – including debt and gambling-related problems – on someone’s risk of suicide.

In response, Conor D’Arcy, Interim Chief Executive at the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

“We’re pleased to see the government publish the new suicide prevention strategy. In particular, we welcome its emphasis on tackling the links between financial difficulty and suicide. This is more urgent than ever, with lots of people telling us how rising costs and the burden of debt have contributed to them becoming suicidal in recent years.

“We are also glad to see the government recognise that suicide prevention goes beyond the health system. Making the benefits system more supportive and improving how people in debt to the government are treated is vital too.

“But for this strategy to be effective, it needs to be matched by adequate government funding and urgent action to deliver these plans. That will be vital if the government is to achieve its aim of reducing the number of suicides over the coming years.”

ENDS

Contact:

For all media enquiries, please contact Brian Semple, Head of External Affairs, on 0207 848 1448 or [email protected]

Notes to Editors

• The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute was set up by Martin Lewis in spring 2016, registered charity number 1166493.
• It conducts research and develops policies for essential services firms, regulators, the health service and government to help people with mental health problems protect themselves from financial difficulties and get out of debt.
• Martin Lewis OBE, Money Saving Expert, is an award-winning campaigning broadcaster, newspaper columnist and author. He founded MoneySavingExpert.com in 2003 for £100 and remains its full-time Editor-in-Chief. It is now the UK’s biggest money site, with more than 14 million monthly users. Martin has his own prime-time ITV programme – The Martin Lewis Money Show – and is resident expert on This Morning, Good Morning Britain and BBC Radio 5 Live’s Consumer Panel, among others.