Wednesday 3rd May 2023
Last week Defence published its Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan. It provides a framework in which Defence will take further action to reduce suicide and better support those affected by it. The supporting Action Plan provides details of how this will be delivered.
The impact of suicide on the Armed Forces
The death of any member of the Armed Forces is a tragedy. A death by suicide impacts not only on those who were close to the individual but can have far-reaching and devastating effects across the whole Armed Forces community.
A concerning emerging trend suggests the rate of suicides within the Armed Forces is increasing and more must be done to address this.
Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan
This Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy provides the strategic framework within which Defence will take further action to reduce suicide and better support those affected by it. The supporting action plan provides details of how this will be delivered. Progress will be monitored through a health and wellbeing governance structure.
Here you can download the strategy and action plan (gov.uk).
Focus areas of the action plan include:
- Understand high risk groups within the Armed Forces
- Educate the Armed Forces about suicide
- Enable individal resilience and personal support needs
- Enable safe military environments
- Enhance organisational management of those at risk
- Enable access to support for those at risk
- Develop accessible postvention support
- Improve organisational learning
