GP Mentors and Retention Delivery Service

The Suicide Prevention contract will comprise of one overarching service specification with two distinct service areas: suicide prevention and bereavement support. Both services will be aimed at the 6 SWL boroughs

2.1 Suicide Prevention Service

2.1.1 Aims

• To reduce the incidence of suicide and self-harm across the local population through early intervention, awareness-raising, and enhanced community and professional support

• To promote a whole-community approach to suicide prevention by engaging local authorities, education providers, workplaces; voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, and healthcare settings. The service should also prioritise targeting vulnerable population groups including delivery of training to organisations that work with vulnerable communities (particularly those at risk of suicides).

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2.1.2 Objectives

• Increase awareness and understanding of suicide risk and prevention across the community.

• Build capacity and confidence in professionals, peers, and community leaders to identify and support individuals at risk.

• Provide bespoke interventions that are effective and accessible for everyone, and tailored to support priority groups, including higher risk groups (e.g. men, autistic people) and groups experiencing risk factors e.g. substance misuse, domestic violence

• Create safe and connected communities by improving support and signposting, and provision of messages about suicide and self-harm prevention through accessible digital resources

• Aim to impact and reduce suicide and self-harm across South West London through early intervention, awareness, and targeted support.

• Strengthen local suicide prevention infrastructure through multi-agency collaboration, lived experience involvement, and whole-system approaches

• Implement evidence-based interventions that address self-harm behaviours, focussing on early identification, harm reduction and psychosocial support

• Embed suicide prevention into everyday settings such as schools, workplaces, and community organisations

• To monitor and evaluate impact and outcomes through robust data collection, feedback mechanisms, and continuously improve delivery through annual monitoring and learning.