T he first Minister for Suicide Prevention in the UK has been appointed and announced to coincide with World Mental Health day. Conservative MP Jackie Doyle-Price will undertake the position and lead Government work on reducing the number of people taking their own lives. It is thought to be a world first role and is one of a number of announcements by Theresa May concerning the Government’s handling of mental health. At a reception for World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, the Prime Minister is set to say: “When I first became Prime Minister, I stood on the steps of Downing Street and pledged to fight the burning injustices in our society. “There are few greater examples than the injustices facing those with mental health conditions. But together we can change that. “We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence. We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives.” According to the Government's statement, around 4,500 people take their own lives each year in England and suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 45. Matthew Smith, who led a charge to have a minister appointed to suicide prevention after his brother took his life, welcomed the appointment. In a video message shared by CALM, the campaign against living miserably, he said: “This announcement can be a huge, huge stepping stone towards preventing suicide.” The charity also welcomed the move. The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, also backed the new position to be a success. It is one of multiple announcements regarding the Government's plans on mental health / PA In a statement, he said: “I am delighted we are appointing Jackie Doyle-Price as our dedicated Minister for Suicide Prevention, and I know she will make a real difference. “Every suicide is a preventable death and we are determined to do everything we can to tackle the tragedy of suicide.” Other Government moves announced include new support teams and resources in schools, as well as a new annual report on young people’s mental well-being." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by Health Secretary Matt Hancock at the Mental Health Summit / PA There is also set to be up to £1.8million in Government funding made available to the helpline Samaritan’s. Mr Hancock is hosting the first Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London this week.<doc-sep>Around 4,500 people take their lives every year in England, and suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under the age of 45. So today, to mark World Mental Health Day, the Prime Minister announced the first ever Minister for Suicide Prevention. It was part of a raft of announcements in a bid to tackle mental ill health, including better care for children. We sat down with the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, to discuss the government’s plans.<doc-sep>BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 15: Musician Chris Cornell (L) and wife Vicky Karayiannis arrive at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Camerota: There are dark days, but it can lift Mind health doctor: We have to talk about it DOVER, DE - JUNE 19: Rapper Logic performs onstage during day 2 of the Firefly Music Festival on June 19, 2015 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Firefly) After losing son to suicide, she considered it too Stock Photo: Young sad woman with cup of coffee or tea. Stress, depression, illness concept. Image ID:521073610 Copyright: Juta Release Information: Signed model release filed with Shutterstock, Inc (CNN) — British Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed what is thought to be the world’s first minister for suicide prevention. The move, intended to tackle the tragedy of 4,500 people taking their own lives in England each year, comes on World Mental Health Day. Jackie Doyle-Price, a Conservative MP and current health minister, has been appointed to lead the government’s efforts to confront the issue, which is the leading cause of death in men aged under 45. The new role will head up a ministerial taskforce, working with experts in suicide and self-harm prevention, charities, clinicians and those personally affected by suicide. May said: “We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence. We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives.” Doyle-Price, in her new role as minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention, said: “In my time as health minister I have met many people who have been bereaved by suicide and their stories of pain and loss will stay with me for a long time. “It’s these people who need to be at the heart of what we do and I welcome this opportunity to work closely with them, as well as experts, to oversee a cross-government suicide prevention plan, making their sure their views are always heard.” May has also pledged more support for mental health services for children and young people, as well as funding for the Samaritans’ helpline – a confidential 24/7 freephone service. Shutterstock Suicide is the second leading cause of death globally for young peope aged between 15 and 19. Royal support The measures come as London hosts the first ever Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, organized together with the OECD and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Tuesday’s opening session was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who previously launched the Heads Together mental health campaign with Prince Harry. Organizations, ministers and representatives from more than 50 countries will continue to discuss the many issues surrounding mental health in the capital today. They are likely to debate the findings of a new report from WHO, which states that mental health should be explicitly included in global policy as mental health problems kill more young people than any other cause worldwide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death globally for young peope aged between 15 and 19, according to the report, which also suggested there is little difference reported in mental health services and support between countries of low and middle average incomes and those of high incomes. Mental health disorders have “dramatically risen” around the world in the last 25 years, according to Dr. Pattel of Harvard University, who presented his findings in The Lancet and described the global mental health situation as “extremely bleak.” May’s announcement comes a day after the National Audit Office said the UK government may be “even further away than it thought” from achieving its goal of equal access to physical and mental health services for young people. While the UK’s move was welcomed, critics blamed shortfalls affecting mental health services on the government’s austerity drive. Barbara Keeley, mental health spokeswoman for the opposition Labour Party, said: “A focus on suicide prevention is long overdue given the appalling increase in suicide rates since 2010, particularly among young people, but it also needs proper funding of front line services. “Mental health services are still being underfunded by the Conservative government.”<doc-sep>View this post on Instagram Just wanna say huge respect to @tommy_mallet for starting off such an important movement for us lads. #ICryBecause I feel like no one understands and I struggle to express myself properly. I am sure I’m not the only one. This world is full of so many pressures that sometimes you make mistakes and sometimes you make the wrong choices. Nobody is perfect and that is okay. I nominate @diags_ and @danedgar to join #MalletsMovement #BoysBareAll - perfect for #WorldMentalHealthDay2018<doc-sep>
In an effort to overcome stigma and address mental health issues, the U.K. appointed a new minister for suicide prevention on Wednesday, which also marked World Mental Health Day, the New York Times reports. Health minister Jackie Doyle-Price will be charged with ensuring mental health remains a top priority as the National Health Service receives new funding. “We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence,” Prime Minister Theresa May said while announcing the new position. “We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives. And we can give the mental well-being of our children the priority it so profoundly deserves.” While suicide rates have dropped in recent years, about 4,500 people take their own lives annually in England, according to government research. It remains the leading cause of death for men under age 45, the Times reports. “In my time as health minister, I have met many people who have been bereaved by suicide, and their stories of pain and loss will stay with me for a long time,” Doyle-Price said in a statement. “It’s these people who need to be at the heart of what we do, and I welcome this opportunity to work closely with them, as well as experts, to oversee a cross-government suicide-prevention plan, making sure their views are always heard,” she said. May also announced additional funding for the Samaritans’ help line, a confidential 24-hour suicide hotline. In January, May also appointed a minister for loneliness to deal with she called “the sad reality of modern life” for too many people. Contact us at letters@time.com.