A new suicide prevention plan is being put in place to tackle increasing rates of suicide in Brighton and Hove.
In September, it was revealed that suicide rates in the city were at a 10-year high, according to the latest available figures for 2015-17, with 113 people ending their lives.
Now, Brighton and Hove City Council has put together a strategy with the aim of reducing this by 10 per cent by 2020-21.
Almost three quarters of suicide victims who died in 2006-17 were men, according to a report going before the council’s Health and Wellbeing Board.
Suicide rates were falling in the city until the 2010-12 period and have increased since.
Priority groups targeted in the new plan include men aged 30 to 54 years, people with existing mental health problems and people who self-harm.
Armed forces veterans are highlighted as higher risk along with care leavers and survivors of abuse.
A report going before councillors on Tuesday 29 January said that the council was working with pubs, sports organisations, music venues, barbers and others to raise awareness.
Those living in areas of deprivation, the LGBTQ community, people with drug and alcohol problems, members of the black and minority ethnic communities, those with physical health problems and young adults were also priority groups.
In 2017-18, 169 people from 100 different organisations received training from Grassroots Suicide Prevention.
The report said: “An important way that we will reduce suicide among high-risk groups is to increase suicide prevention training.
“The strategy prioritises the importance of suicide prevention training in enabling those who work with those at risk of suicide to effectively support people at risk and prevent incidents.”
More than 4,000 mental health crisis cards have been distributed to Brighton and Hove’s universities, hostels, seafront team and mental health services and to supported housing including hostels.
The council will work with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services in the city, as well as GPs and Sussex Police to support awareness and training.
Reducing the risk of suicide by repairing and maintaining cliff-side fences, and using Samaritans signs along the seafront, are also part of the strategy.
The Health and Wellbeing Board is due to meet at Hove Town Hall on Tuesday 28 January. The meeting, which is scheduled to start at 4pm, should be open to the public.
