How Portsmouth is tackling suicide in the city
A focus on tackling suicide in Portsmouth is hoped to cut the rate by 10% by the end of this year.
The city council has an action plan which aims to reduce the number of people killing themselves as well as supporting the bereaved or those affected by suicide.
Figures show 24 people take their own lives each year, higher than the average for south-east England. Death by suicide — both nationally and locally - is highest in middle-aged men aged 40–44,
With regards to gender and age, the action plan said that between 2013 and 2016, 78% of deaths due to suicide or undetermined intent were male and 22% were female.
Men are therefore almost four times more likely to die from suicide than women, which is roughly in line with the national trend, the plan added.
As the data shows a concerning reality in the realm of mental health of men in Portsmouth, Jenna Clark, a trauma therapist, said: “We need it to be okay to talk, we need trauma enforced practice education, we need to make it mandatory learning, we need to go in at grassroots in the schools.
“We need to make it absolutely compulsory so that people exposed to adversity don’t think they are on they’re on own.”
If we take a look into how mental health awareness has sky-rocketed over the past two years, it is clear to see how the pandemic has galvanised a so-called “collective awakening” for many.
However, has this attitude or awareness been merely brought on by our struggle through lockdown restrictions and periods of isolation as many would believe so?
With the restrictions on general life and “normality” being uprooted, hardships have befallen a vast majority of people. The pandemic has most definitely given people more time to think, as the pace of life for many has slowed.
Statistics show that 10% of those who died by suicide had seen a GP six days or less before their death; 33% within four weeks before their death; and 59% within three months.
Of the cases who had seen a GP within the four weeks prior to their death, 64% of cases were in contact about their mental health; 33% about their physical health; and 3% were opportunistically seen.
There’s has always been a stigma associated with men and mental health. Society’s expectation for men had always been to “man up”.
City officials are encouraging men to speak out on how they are feeling and to seek support, advice and guidance.
