Content

9.1

The Strategic Director of Public Health and
Integrated Commissioning submitted a report requesting that the
Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to adopt and endorse the
Sheffield Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2030. Building on our
previous suicide prevention strategy, it sets out a multi-agency
approach to reducing deaths by suicide in the city. The strategy
can be found attached as Appendix A of the
report.
 
The five-year strategy has an overarching vision,
eight strategic priorities and a delivery plan which will be
refreshed annually. Its eight strategic priorities, which closely
align with those of the recent Suicide Prevention Strategy for
England 2023-2028.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and
Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) adopts and
endorse the Sheffield Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025–2030,
as detailed in the report now submitted; and
 
(b) notes the
content of the strategy and this report.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

Suicide is
preventable. Building on our previous suicide prevention strategy,
the Sheffield Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025–2030 sets out
a multi-agency approach to reducing deaths by suicide in the
city.

 

 

9.3.2

The adoption, endorsement and implementation of this refreshed
strategy will further embed suicide prevention as a shared
responsibility and ensure there is continued coordinated action to
prevent suicide in Sheffield.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

Alternative option 1: Do nothing
This option was rejected. While there is no specific statutory
duty on local authorities to produce a suicide prevention strategy,
there is a clear expectation from the Department of Health and
Social Care that each local area develops and maintains a suicide
prevention action plan. This expectation is reinforced in national
guidance, including the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England
2023–2028. Adopting and implementing this local strategy
ensures that Sheffield meets these expectations and demonstrates
its continued commitment to reducing deaths by suicide. It also
aligns with the Council’s broader statutory duties under the
Health and Social Care Act 2012 to improve the health and wellbeing
of its residents.

 

 

9.4.2

Alternative option 2: Isolated agency
approaches
This option was rejected. This option would involve individual
services or sectors developing their own approaches to suicide
prevention in the absence of a coordinated, city-wide strategy and
delivery plan. Whilst well-intentioned actions may still occur,
this fragmented approach risks duplication, inefficiencies and gaps
in support - particularly for groups of particular
concern.
 
This option has been rejected because effective suicide
prevention requires a coordinated, multi-agency response. The
Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023 to 2028 makes clear
that “preventing suicide requires collaboration across all
parts of society, including national and local government, the NHS,
public health, education, employers, the voluntary and community
sector and others.” The national strategy specifically calls
for multi-agency partnerships at the local level to ensure shared
accountability and joined-up action across health, care, education,
policing, and community services.
 
Maintaining a local, strategic, multi-agency delivery plan -
such as the Sheffield Suicide Prevention Strategy and its
associated governance - ensures alignment with these national
expectations and maximises the impact of suicide prevention work in
the city.