Richmond Draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy: 2026-2029

Using data, intelligence and lived experience to guide action.

To prevent suicide and self-harm effectively, we need to understand what 
is happening in our communities and who may need support. We will use 
local data, information from services, and the experiences of people affected by suicide and self-harm to identify risks early, understand where support is needed most, and make sure our actions are making a difference.

What we will do:

• Monitor local suicide and self-harm trends to identify emerging issues.
• Use local evidence to identify people and communities who may be at greater risk.
• Involve people with lived experience in shaping services and future plans

Helping people feel comfortable talking about mental health and asking for help.

Many people find it difficult to talk about suicidal thoughts, self-harm or emotional distress. We will work with local communities, schools, workplaces and services to break down stigma, encourage open conversations and help people get support earlier.

What we will do:

• Run awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking.
• Provide suicide prevention and Mental Health First Aid training.
• Promote Zero Suicide Alliance training across local services and communities.
• Support community organisations to recognise and respond to people in distress

Ensuring people can access the right support at the right time.

People experiencing distress often seek help in a range of settings, not just mental health services. We will improve awareness of local support, strengthen referral pathways and ensure a “no wrong door” approach across services.

What we will do:

• Improve visibility of local support, pathways and resources.
• Embed suicide prevention within housing, welfare, social care and community services.
• Promote early intervention and community-based support to reduce escalation to crisis.

Providing early support to improve emotional wellbeing and prevent self-harm.

National evidence shows that self-harm is particularly common among young people, especially young women. We will strengthen prevention, early intervention and support across education, health and community settings.

What we will do:

• Promote emotional wellbeing and resilience in schools, colleges and universities.
• Strengthen awareness and use of local self-harm pathways and resources.
• Support earlier identification and response to emotional distress

Targeting support where it is needed most.

Suicide risk is influenced by social, economic and health inequalities. We will focus prevention efforts on groups known to experience higher levels of risk, including people facing financial hardship, unemployment, poor physical or mental health, social isolation and other forms of disadvantage.

What we will do:

• Strengthen support for men, LGBTQ+ communities and other vulnerable populations.
• Integrate suicide prevention into wider work on poverty, debt, housing and health inequalities.
• Promote community connections, peer support and activities that reduce isolation and build resilience

Providing effective support before, during and after crisis.

When people experience suicidal crisis or self-harm, timely and compassionate support can save lives. We will advocate for stronger crisis pathways, improved coordination between services and better support following a suicide attempt, self-harm episode or bereavement by suicide.

What we will do:

• Champion evidence-based suicide and self-harm prevention in primary care, secondary care and crisis settings, aligned with ‘Staying Safe from Suicide’ guidance.
• Support the implementation of improved crisis care pathways
• Postvention support for individuals, families, schools, workplaces and communities affected by suicide