§ 8. Sue Doughty (Guildford)What his policy is on reducing the incidence of suicide among women. [67271]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Jacqui Smith)We published the national suicide prevention strategy for England for public consultation on 26 April 2002. It is a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to prevent suicide. The strategy describes key actions already taken, and proposes further actions to be taken, to help meet the target set out in the White Paper, "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation". In addition, the Department 153 is producing a strategy for women's mental health that will ensure that reformed mental health services meet the needs of women.
§ Sue DoughtyI thank the Minister for that answer. Is she aware that suicide is the main and rising cause of death among pregnant and perinatal women and new mothers? Different forms of suicide are occurring; there are many more violent methods and they are gender-specific. What is being done to increase awareness among health professionals of the risk to that particular group of women?
§ Jacqui SmithI think that the hon. Lady refers to information in the confidential inquiry into maternal 154 deaths. It is worth putting the deaths from suicide among that group of women into context: the report highlighted 28 deaths due to suicide in more than 2 million maternities. However, she is right—any suicide is serious. The confidential inquiry made several recommendations for the management of women who are at risk of serious mental illness following delivery. In May, the Department produced a supplement insert for the GP magazine PrimaryCare, which included the key issues from the inquiry, to help to raise awareness of the factors that can contribute to maternal deaths. We also produced a separate midwifery summary of the confidential inquiry, and the findings will of course feed into the development of the maternity module of the children's national service framework.