Delyth Jewell MS, Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
I recognise the profound and lasting effect that a death by suicide has on families, friends and the wider community. As a new government, we are committed to making meaningful progress in reducing deaths by suicide in Wales, and to ensuring that people who are affected receive the support they need.
It is essential that our approach is grounded in the strongest available evidence, so that the actions we take are both effective and impactful. I therefore welcome the upcoming publication of the first annual report from the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-harm Research, on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th.
The Welsh Government has invested more than £2m in the National Centre through Health and Care Research Wales. Led by Swansea University, and in collaboration with Cardiff University, the University of South Wales and the Samaritans, the National Centre plays a vital role as the central repository for data and evidence on suicide and self-harm in Wales. It brings together academic research, established surveillance systems and, crucially, the insights of people with lived experience.
This work will strengthen the data infrastructure and sharing processes needed to inform legislation, policy and service design in Wales. The annual report will provide an overview of Welsh data and evidence in relation to suicide and self-harm, key messages and advice for the Welsh Government, as well as a summary of the National Centre’s progress against its deliverables in the Suicide and Self-harm Strategy for Wales: Delivery Plan 2025-2028.
The report from the National Centre makes it clear that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility, requiring coordinated action across government and collaboration with partners in many sectors. I will be working closely with my ministerial colleagues, guided by the evidence, to ensure we strengthen work to prevent suicide. I am particularly concerned about the effects of cyberbullying and am keen to better understand the wider influence of social media on children and young people. To ensure we have a stronger evidence base in this area, I have asked that these issues be given specific consideration in the next annual report.
We know from the evidence that the risks of suicide can disproportionately affect certain groups and demographics. Men are disproportionately more likely to die by suicide, as are people living in the most disadvantaged areas of Wales. The work of the National Centre is vital in improving our understanding of issues that increase the risk of suicide, and to shape our preventative approach.
Our Suicide Prevention and Self-harm Strategy and accompanying delivery plan has a specific focus on how we better understand and tackle those issues that can lead people to die by suicide. In 2024, there were 436 registered deaths by suicide in Wales, 337 of which were men. These figures are a stark reminder of the urgency of our work.
Our Strategy and delivery plan recognise that people’s experiences, needs and challenges differ, and that our response must reflect this. We are committed to building a system that is responsive, compassionate, and able to provide timely support. We will continue to explore the factors affecting different groups, particularly men, and how best to reach and support those at risk.
Through taking a compassionate and evidence-based approach in Wales, we are laying the foundations for meaningful and lasting change.
The annual report from the National Centre is an important first step in equipping us with the data and evidence we need to support delivery of our commitment to achieving an annual reduction in the number and rates of suicides and attempted suicides, as set out in our Suicide Prevention and Self-harm Strategy for Wales.