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Edge Hill suicide prevention
work recognised by Health Select Committee
2 mental health projects ran by Edge Hill University and
Everton in the Community have been highlighted in a Health Select Committee
paper. The publication 'Suicide Prevention' suggests that the
Government's suicide prevention strategy needs greater focus on implementation,
and identifies projects including:- 'Tackling the Blues' and
'Active Blues' as exemplars of good work in this area.
Tackling the Blues is a sports based programme targeting children and young
people who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, mental illness and
Active Blues, which is funded by Sport England, helps inactive men aged 35 to 50, to
become active and improve their mental wellbeing. Drawing upon research
conducted as part of Tackling the Blues at Edge Hill University, Professor Andy
Smith told the Committee about the benefits of focusing on a whole School
approach to mental health and wellbeing and developing a culture where mental
health is a priority.
Professor Andy Smith said:- "It was an honour to be invited to speak to
the Health Select Committee, as part of its national enquiry on suicide
prevention, to discuss our collaborative sports based mental health research
with Everton in the Community. To have our partnership work recognised by the
Committee as a model of good practice, and an example of how to practically
implement aspects of the government's national suicide prevention strategy, is
especially pleasing. It is further testimony to our longstanding commitment
towards adopting a collaborative, impact focused, approach to research and
community working which is of real benefit to the lives of others."
Michael Salla, Director of Health at Everton in the Community, added:- "We
are delighted to be able to support such an important strategy and to be able to
offer our input and guidance via our two named projects and our academic
partnership. Our programmes have made a real contribution to our local
communities and it is an honour that this has been recognised at such a level as
the Health Select Committee."
Chair of the Health Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, said:- "If the
Government wishes to be truly ambitious in reducing the toll of suicide, there
are many further steps which it could take, which we have set out in this
report. The Government must prioritise effective implementation of its strategy
because without it, any strategy is of very limited value." |
