We’re delighted to be working in collaboration with Arden & Greater East Midlands (GEM) Commissioning Support Unit to further develop resources and tools for suicide awareness and prevention.
Suicide is a significant public health concern with more than 6,000 suicide deaths in the UK every year. We need this to change. One life lost is one too many.
Over the next year, we will work together with Arden & GEM to explore ways in which data on suicide can be collected, analysed, and utilised to inform and guide suicide prevention programmes.
We’ll be enhancing and improving how we make data and information accessible and useful to support those working towards suicide prevention.
By tracking suicide rates and trends over time, identifying risk factors and warning signs and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention strategies we hope to help others develop targeted and effective suicide prevention strategies.
We will use our combined expertise to work with health and care systems to identify high-risk populations, tailor prevention efforts monitor the impact of interventions so that strategies can be adjusted as needed.
Mark Smith, Director of Finance, Arden & GEM said: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Zero Suicide Alliance and hope our joint working can make real progress in addressing this serious public health issue. Suicide awareness offers an opportunity to both increase public knowledge and understanding of suicide and improve its prevention. The ultimate goal of our collaboration is to reduce the number of suicides and improve support to individuals who may be at risk as well as families affected by suicide.”
Elaine Darbyshire, Co-Founder of the Zero Suicide Alliance said: “Zero Suicide Alliance aims to empower, educate, and equip individuals and organisations to support suicide awareness and prevention. Arden & GEM share our passion for making suicide prevention resources that are accessible and effective. We’re excited to be working with them and look forward to further developing resources so more people feel equipped and empowered to take action and help save lives.”
About Arden & GEM
NHS Arden & GEM is a Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) works across the health and care sector in England to provide a range of solutions including procurement and contracting, service transformation, business intelligence, business enabling services and clinical support. Its ability to draw upon expertise from over 1000 staff, working in multidisciplinary teams, enables the CSU to help healthcare commissioners and providers navigate and implement the change needed to improve patient care and outcomes. Arden & GEM’s clients include more than 70 customers including Integrated Care Boards, NHS England, Integrated Care Systems, Primary Care Networks, NHS provider trusts and local authorities.