Public consultation on suicide bereavement services

Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement
Graphic with a light blue border showing test which says: “Public consultation on suicide bereavement services. In-person engagement sessions. Virtual events. Online survey. 12-week consultation runs until 9 April 2023.” The PHA logos is at the bottom of the graphic.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has today [Monday 16 January] launched a public consultation on services for those who have been bereaved by suicide.

The 12-week consultation runs until Sunday 9 April with opportunities to get involved at in-person and virtual engagement sessions or through an online survey.

Fiona Teague, Head of Health Improvement at the PHA, said: “Given the impact that suicide has on families and communities, the PHA recognises how important it is to regularly review services that are in place to provide support, and how essential it is to listen to the views of people who use the services, including families, local communities and other organisations to ensure they deliver effective support for those who need it.

“I encourage all those who want to participate in the consultation to attend any of the five in-person engagement events which will take place across Northern Ireland. There is also the opportunity to take part in two events being hosted online, or by submitting views on an online survey.”

In September 2019, the Department of Health published ‘Protect Life 2: A Strategy for Preventing Suicide and Self Harm in Northern Ireland’ – a long-term strategy for reducing suicides and the incidence of self-harm, with actions to be delivered across a range of government departments, agencies, and sectors.

“The 12-week consultation is a valuable way to gather the views of individuals directly affected by suicide, understand their needs and determine how the Protect Life 2 Strategy actions for which the PHA is responsible could be designed and delivered to support those in need,” Fiona added.

“We would encourage anyone who has been bereaved by suicide to get involved in the consultation, to have their voice heard, and to help us best support individuals and communities in need of these services in the future.”

Get involved

There are a number of ways to get involved. You can participate in an engagement event, either online or in person, or complete an online survey. The survey will be available for 12 weeks from Monday 16 January 2023 until Sunday 9 April 2023 and is available at https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/hsc/postvention-consultation

Virtual events, held online, and in-person events will last for approximately 1.5 -2 hours. In-person events have been organised on a geographical basis, covering five Health and Social Care Trust areas, with additional evening online sessions open to all areas. Places are limited and booking is essential. Details on these engagement events can be found at www.pha.site/Consultation2022  

Ends

Notes to editor:

  • In September 2019, the Department of Health published ‘Protect Life 2: A Strategy for Preventing Suicide and Self Harm in Northern Ireland’ – www.health-ni.gov.uk/protectlife2
  • The strategy includes specific actions which the PHA is responsible for delivering, and the agency is now undertaking a consultation on postvention services
  • In order for the PHA to develop future services to meet these actions, it is important to review current services and most importantly listen to the views of service users, local communities and other organisations delivering services, through the consultation process.
  • An eight-week pre-consultation process was held in February-April 2021.