Mental Health Solicitors

Leeds City Council has welcomed the publication of a suicide audit completed by public health professionals in Leeds.

The suicide audit in Leeds is considered a gold standard – and is recommended by Public Health England as a model for other areas to learn from.

By knowing more details about suicide, experts know interventions and effective prevention can be better targeted.

The previous audit completed in 2012 has influenced action for the city, including special suicide prevention training for frontline council and health staff, as well as other volunteers.

The audit has also influenced support for work with men in areas of the city with higher rates of suicide – and a crisis card helping people access services wider than mental health services.

Results of the audit have also resulted in co-production of media guidelines on reporting suicide and innovative “postvention” work – involving Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service, which supports local people who have been affected by the death of someone by suicide.

Chair of Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board, Councillor Rebecca Charlwood, said:

“This report confirms suicide is one of the biggest causes of death particularly affecting men under 50 in Leeds.

“We know however that suicide is not inevitable and that we all have a key role to play in order to help save the lives of those with suicidal thoughts.

“Suicide prevention will continue to be a priority in the city – and the wide network of individuals and organisations working together to support people affected highlights the key work taking place in Leeds to create a city which is a healthier and better place to live.”

Consultant in Public Health at Leeds City Council, Victoria Eaton, added:

“The extra detail in the latest audit gives us valuable information to plan the best way to provide interventions and support.

“We have known for some while the typical profile of people more likely to be at risk – and this has helped us deliver interventions where most needed.

“There are many myths about suicide which obscure the evidence that those most likely to kill themselves are middle aged men.
“The extra detail from the new audit makes clear that we can continue to target work and help professionals spot the need to intervene.”

Professor Alan White is a Registered Nurse and Founder and Co-director of the Centre for Men’s Health at Leeds Beckett.

Prof White said:

“The figures clearly show nearly five times more men compared to women die through suicide, while men generally make far less access to mental health support.

“There’s a range of factors which can undermine men’s sense of worth, such as facing employment difficulties, divorce and loss of contact with children, long-term health conditions – and these negative life events result in low resilience that can culminate in suicide.

“The better this is understood by people, the easier it is to intervene when someone may be facing these stresses.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available nationwide at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 020 3114 1124.