§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the national suicide prevention strategy. [144760]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) published the first annual report of its suicide prevention programme on 11 December 2003. It sets out progress made so far and further action that needs to be taken in the medium and longer term. The report incorporates suicide rates for the year 2002, the most recent available, which show that the number of suicides is at the lowest rate recorded. An electronic version of the report is available at http://www.nimhe.org.uk/downloads/78129-DoH- SuicidePrevention.pdf. A copy of the report is available in the Library.