Agenda item

Report of the Director of Public Health.

The Board received a report of the Director of Public Health, concerning an update on the suicide prevention action plan and data on suicide incidents in the square mile.

A Member raised a concern in relation to the support scheme(s) offered to City of London Police (CoLP) officers and wanted to know whether more support could be offered to CoLP staff and officers. Having undertaken suicide prevention training she was keen for this to be rolled out to all CoLP officers and she also thanked the Bridge Watch patrols for their work, and encouraged those who were willing to volunteer. The Port Health and Public Protection Director further advised the Board that ongoing discussions with City Bridge Foundation were taking place to identify methods of improving bridge safety with a more reasonable approach to bridge barriers to be discussed.

A Member noted that International Suicide Prevention Day was a several days prior to this meeting and wanted to know what the City Corporation could do to raise further awareness and reduce the overall stigma surrounding suicide in the hope of identifying further ways of suicide prevention. The Director of Public Health informed the Board that suicide prevention remained a high priority as part of a comprehensive action plan and that information regarding suicide had been placed in public spaces such as the London bridges.

The Chair thanked officers and volunteers for their work in relation to suicide prevention.

RESOLVED, that – the report and its contents be noted.