HC Deb 22 May 2000 vol 350 cc345-6W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into

Admissions by month and health authority of residence NHS hospitals, England 1994–95 to 1998–99
April May June July August September October November December January February March
1994–95
Bromley HA 4,199 4,421 4,536 4,703 4,483 4,436 4,539 4,813 4,086 4,593 4,387 4,430
North Cumbria 5,004 5,353 5,446 5,276 5,029 5,426 5,352 5,498 5,003 5,762 5,275 5,108
1995–96
Bromley HA 4,457 4,841 4,894 4,444 4,564 4,513 4,821 4,919 3,979 4,729 4,541 4,014
North Cumbria 4,937 5,699 5,552 5,625 5,418 5,542 5,798 5,856 5,198 5,907 5,145 4,938
1996–97
Bromley HA 4,573 4,939 4,476 5,269 4,671 4,814 5,232 4,963 4,444 4,768 4,393 4,088
North Cumbria 5,691 5,525 5,507 5,863 5,220 5,607 5,994 5,622 5,266 5,954 5,401 4,859

the reasons for the rate of suicide among Asian women aged 15 to 24 years; and what action has been taken as a result. [122445]

Mr. Hutton

The Department has not directly commissioned any research into the reasons for the rate of suicide among Asian women aged 15 to 24. However, we have supported studies undertaken by the Institute of Psychiatry in 1996 into rates of attempted suicide in Asian women in West London and 1998 about the Asian Communities knowledge of depression, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Following these studies educational material has been prepared for the Asian Community in four languages. The Department also supported the publication "Ethnicity: An Agenda for Mental Health" by the Royal College of Psychiatrists which included details of research into suicide and attempted suicides across cultures.

The Department has also provided the Asian Family Counselling Service with funding through the Section 64 scheme for their Nai Umeed (New Hope) project to reduce mental ill health and suicide among Asian women.

The development of strategies to reduce suicide is a major part of our programme outlined in the White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation". The National Service framework for Mental Health sets a specific evidence-based standard for mental health and social services to prevent suicide. In addition we are bringing together the necessary expertise to work across Government to drive forward a whole range of initiatives to make progress towards achieving the targets to reduce suicides including focusing on high-risk groups, such as Asian women.