HC Deb 15 May 2002 vol 385 cc743-4W
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the number of suicides by young men. [56424]

Jacqui Smith

In December 1997 the Department launched the campaign against living miserably (CALM) telephone helpline in Manchester. The helpline, aimed at young men, offers advice, guidance, information and counselling at the onset of depression. CALM has been extended to Merseyside and Cumbria and Bedfordshire and we are looking to make it available in other areas in partnership with local agencies. Ultimately, we hope that the helpline will help to bring down the suicide rate in young men.

In addition, the Department is in the process of developing, under the direction of the national director for mental health Professor Louis Appleby, a coherent national suicide prevention strategy to ensure that we are doing all we can to prevent suicides. This strategy was launched for public consultation on 26 April 2002. Copies of the strategy are available in the Library.