Decision details

Proposed decision –Adopt the Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030.

Reason for the decision

·       The Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030 is a continuation of the existing strategy (2021-2025) and combines local data about who is dying by suicide in Kent and Medway with national research and policy direction.

·       Implementing this strategy will mean that efforts to reduce the number of people dying by Kent and Medway can continue with an informed and dedicated focus, led by the Kent & Medway Suicide Prevention Programme.

Background – Provide brief additional context

·       The Strategy has been developed by the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme team, which is hosted by KCC’s Public Health department and funded by the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board.

·       The new strategy was developed in conjunction with the Suicide Prevention Network which is the stakeholder group for the strategy. The stakeholder group consists of well-established partnerships made up of over 250 agencies, including statutory and voluntary / community sector organisations as well as individuals living with experience of suicidal thoughts, self-harm or who have been bereaved by suicide.

·       The new Strategy was out for public consultation between 23rd July 2025 and 6th October 2025 and yielded 149 responses.  Feedback received is currently being woven into the draft strategy, and is informing the strategy but does not amount to any significant change to what it is proposed in the current draft. The public consultation is overwhelmingly supportive of the eight priorities and gave good guidance for the specific objectives and suggested actions that be featured in the programme’s plans.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

No other options were considered as the Strategy is necessary to the Kent & Medway Suicide Prevention Programme.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

The new Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030 clearly aligns with the commitment to work with our partners to hardwire a preventative approach into improving the health of Kent’s population and narrowing health inequalities, improving safeguarding and preventing death.  It aims to work with partners across the System to improve residents’ mental health and reduce the risk of people dying by suicide.

The Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Strategy for 2026-2030 supports the Council toachieve best value by embedding a preventative approach to suicide and self-harm among adults and children. Research from the Samaritans suggests that each individual suicide costs the state an average of £1.46 million, highlighting the positive financial impact of a focused suicide prevention strategy as well as making the system more efficient and responsive.

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, I agree to:

APPROVE the adoption of the Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030