Preventing Suicides in Southwark. Our strategy and action plan 2023-2028

Preventing Suicides in Southwark

Every suicide is a tragic event with devastating effects on families, friends and communities. In Southwark, we know that many suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based support.

There is no single cause of suicide, and it is not usually caused by a single circumstance or event. Instead, there are a wide range of psychological, social, economic and cultural risk factors that can increase the risk of suicidal behaviour.

Self-harm is defined as an intentional act of self-poisoning or self-injury, excluding attempted suicide. There are many reasons why someone will self-harm. People can self-harm in different ways, some of which are not always obvious, such as over-exercising, disordered eating or misusing drugs or alcohol. Although not everyone that self-harms has suicidal intent, there is a strong link between self-harm and subsequent death by suicide.

Our vision to prevent suicide, attempted suicide and self-harm in Southwark

Our vision is to make Southwark a borough where all stakeholders work together effectively with each other and the community to prevent suicide, attempted suicide and self-harm.

In order to realise our vision, we will develop a strategy and action plan in partnership with residents and the Suicide Prevention Steering Group, in order to:

• Better understand our local population and their needs
• Identify the key priority areas to focus on over the next five years
• Develop action plan outlining how this vision will be achieved

We will publish the strategy and action plan in November 2023 which will be in place until 2028.

Key Southwark Statistics

• Over the five-year period 2017-2021, on average, 21 suicides were registered amongst Southwark residents each year (1).
• Since 2001–3, the suicide rates for Southwark, London and England, and Southwark levels have generally remained statistically similar (Figure 1).

• Between 2010/11 and 2019/20, the rate of admission of Southwark residents to an acute hospital due to self-harm increased from 59 per 100,000 people to 123 per 100,000 people (Figure 2). In 2020/21, the rate decreased to 88 per 100,000.

References 

1. Office for National Statistics. Suicides in England and Wales by Local Authority. 2022.

2. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Suicide Prevention Profile. 2022.