A Cumbrian MP has welcomed a government plan to reduce England’s suicide rate.

Penrith and the Border MP Neil Hudson said government’s new ‘national suicide prevention strategy’, which pledges to reduce England’s suicide rate within 2.5 years, will help people in crisis.

He said the strategy implements over 100 measures, such as a new national alert system to notify relevant authorities l8ike schools, universities, and charities, of emerging suicide methods and actions that can reduce access or limit awareness.

There will also be fresh guidance issued to first responders, recognising new methods and how such incidents should be dealt with, he said.

The strategy also promises near real-time surveillance of trends in suicides to be introduced on a national scale to enable more timely and targeted actions, and a new government pledge to collaborate with other countries to target and stop suppliers of dangerous substances at the source, he added.

The NHS plans to grow the mental health workforce by 73 per cent by 2036 to 2037, citing progress being made as in March 2023, there were almost 9,300 more mental health staff working than the previous year.

Dr Hudson said he was ‘spurred into politics’ after devastation he witnesses as a veterinary inspector during the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, and is keen that communities should be better supported when faced with mental trauma.

He said: “It is hard to put words to just how devastating the impact of suicide is for families and communities.  

“That is why I’m so keen to endorse such a comprehensive strategy that aims to reduce the number of suicides in England through early intervention – allowing more than two million additional people to benefit from vital NHS-funded support by 2024. 

“By talking about and acting on mental health we can help each other within society.” 

Mental health awareness advocated 3 Dads Walking also endorsed the strategy with member Mike Palmer telling ITV Granada: “It is certainly encouraging that the Government is taking this societal problem seriously. 

"3 Dads Walking believe embedding Suicide Prevention early will underpin this strategy. 

"We are working hard with the department of education to make this happen and it is good to see this work in progress specifically mentioned.”