Have your say on plan for hope

The call for views on the draft ‘Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy for 2026 - 2030’, including from those with lived experience and professionals working in mental health, launches today.

The consultation runs until midnight, 6 October 2025 – giving people the chance to comment after Kent and Medway hosts the national suicide prevention campaign, the Baton of Hope Tour, in September.

• Visit www.kent.gov.uk/suicideprevention to find out more about the consultation and take part. 

The vision for reducing local suicide and self-harm rates has been developed by Kent and Medway’s Suicide Prevention Programme working together with over 250 partners from suicide and self-harm networks.

Feedback is specifically sought on adopting and adapting the national Suicide Prevention Strategy priorities – including an action to promote online safety.

The programme is funded by NHS Kent and Medway and delivered by Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council.

Dr Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We have worked hard to get to a situation where suicide rates locally are falling slightly, while national rates increase. But one suicide is one too many and suicide doesn’t discriminate.

“That's why over the course of our next five-year strategy we want to take a broader approach which means keeping focus on our most at-risk residents and reducing the risk of suicide for all.

“We want children and young people to be resilient enough to cope with life’s normal ups and downs but know when to ask for support when they need it. We want adults to understand how to look after their own wellbeing and where to get help when life gets tough. We also want organisations and groups involved in suicide prevention and mental health to get ever closer and share what works.”

Diane Morton, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, is a registered mental health nurse and trained counsellor.

Diane said: “Having lost my father to suicide when I was 19, I know no strategy, no form of words, can fill the aching gap an absent loved one leaves. I also understand the pain of being left behind and the shockwaves suicide sends through entire communities.

“But no single organisation, agency or individual can reduce suicide on their own. It needs to be everyone’s business, all working together to harness our collective power. We want this strategy to be a rallying cry for hope and through its actions do everything we can to reduce the risk of other families experiencing devasting heartbreak.”

To lower the risk of suicide locally over the last five years, Kent and Medway’s Suicide Prevention Programme has been widely recognised for delivering a range of initiatives that make a difference.

These include commissioning bereavement support service Amparo and setting up a Real Time Suicide Surveillance system to quickly identify trends that need to be responded to.

The programme team has also:

• awarded over 100 community grants to local grassroots suicide prevention projects
• supported Mid Kent Mind to give over 8,000 suicide prevention training sessions
• produced leading research – including into the links between domestic abuse and suicide, influencing changes in national government policy.

Dr David Whiting, Director of Public Health at Medway Council, said: “Tackling something as complex and emotive as suicide requires a joined up and cohesive approach. Our collective aim with this strategy is to make sure we are all pushing in the same direction to ensure it can make a real and positive impact for residents across Medway and Kent.

“This strategy will build on the success of our current strategy, and will outline our priorities for the next five years. We want to hear from as many people as possible to help shape it, so please do take the time to share your thoughts, ideas and experiences.”

Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Council's Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Public Health, added: “Awareness and attitudes towards mental health are improving , but we know there is still more work to do. Suicide in particular is still a difficult topic for many so changing how people view and talk about it is key to ensuring people are comfortable and confident enough to ask for help when they need it.

“Nobody should suffer in silence. I want to take this opportunity to remind residents across Medway and Kent who are suffering that there is help out there. There are people who care about you, people who will listen to you and support you. You are not alone. If you feel like you need help, please reach out to someone.”