Written question WQ97828
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 9 days
Question
What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the reason for Wales having the highest suicide rates in the UK?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The latest data published by the Office of National Statistics on suicides is concerning. I have asked my officials, alongside the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-harm Research, and the Real Time Suspected Suicide Surveillance team in Public Health Wales, to analyse Welsh data for suicide registrations and suspected suicides in greater depth, to better understand and inform our response.
My focus is on delivering the objectives of our recently published suicide prevention and self-harm strategy for Wales ‘understanding’ which was published on 1st April 2025. The strategy sets out our focus on building understanding, intervention, prevention, and compassionate support for those who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts – with the aim of reduce rates of suicide in Wales.