September rolls around once more, and Parliament returns after the summer recess to a flurry of announcements.
This year our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, made a series of announcements over the summer recess as he set out his priorities. One of those priorities has been about giving people a little more in their pockets. But another major commitment excited me: improving mental health services.
Mental health and suicide prevention have been key priorities for me and the subject I have most consistently worked on through speeches, questions and events since becoming a Member of Parliament in 2017. It is something that affects us all – and sadly here in the North East we lose more people to suicide than anywhere else in England, with 15.1 deaths recorded per 100,000 population in 2024.
In my maiden speech, I said that I would work to highlight this and fight for more support for those within my constituency. That work has introduced me to some of the vital stakeholders across the sector, working to deliver better mental health provision.
From chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention, to holding a region-wide suicide prevention conference in Newcastle, my work has been focused around giving people a stronger voice in the sector, fighting for support and working with all ministers and political parties to make a difference.
Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide and one in four of us has had suicidal thoughts.
Each life lost has profound social, emotional, and economic consequences, deeply affecting families, friends, workplaces, and entire communities around the world. Nearly everyone will know of someone who has taken their own life. The effects of each suicide ripple through every part of our local communities and leave a lasting mark.
From meeting families left to pick up the pieces, to working alongside charities on the frontline and drawing on my own personal connection to this issue, I am determined to fight for stronger preventative action to help save lives and improve outcomes for everyone in need.
This month, on the 10th of September, we honour all of those who have been affected with World Suicide Prevention Day, a critical International Day of Focus on Prevention.
The theme for this year: Change the Narrative, seeks to start the conversation among friends and family, reduce stigma and to end harmful myths that persist around this heartbreaking subject. Samaritans have done incredible work on this subject – suicide is not inevitable. You can interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts. You could save a life.
I am proud that so many people are working in this field to help support those who need it, but I am also clear that we need to do so much more to open up support, invest in our mental health services and prevent the heartbreak that so many of us have experienced.
Having recently held a debate in the House of Commons on the need to give greater parity of esteem between mental and physical health, I believe we need to focus on reducing waiting times for support and allowing people better access to services they desperately need.
So, I am pleased that in August, the Government announced that 159 new NHS mental health facilities will be opening across England. Within the North East, that translates to four new mental health emergency centres and eight new open access centres for mental health support.
I am committed to working with the NHS Integrated Care Board to ensure these centres are implemented as soon as possible.
I am also committed to pushing the Government to go further and faster with support for our mental health services, as quite simply, a better system can be lifesaving.
Arriving in London for the autumn session of Parliament is important, but fighting for the services that matter is paramount.