Decision details

It was agreed by the Chair to bring Item 5 – Suicide Prevention in Lancashire forward in the meeting. Chris Lee, Public Health Specialist (Behaviour Change), was welcomed to the meeting and provided an overview of the key work that had been undertaken to date. A copy of the presentation was provided with the agenda papers.

The Committee noted that on 4 April 2017, the Chair of the House of Commons Health Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, wrote to all Chairs of Health Scrutiny Committees to recommend that all Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees be involved in ensuring effective implementation of local authorities' suicide prevention plans and that this should be established as a key role of these Committees.

It was also noted that short term outcome no.3 under leadership within the Lancashire and South Cumbria STP Suicide Prevention Logic Model (Action Plan) set out to identify Elected Members from all Local Authorities [within the Lancashire and South Cumbria footprint] to take on the role of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Champion. In considering these points it was;

Resolved: That:

1.  The Leader nominate a member Champion for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention;

2.  The Leader and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing write to all district councils in Lancashire to consider identifying an elected member for the role of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Champion;

3.  Options for Elected Member Champion involvement in the newly formed Lancashire Suicide Prevention Partnership be considered;

4.  A training session on Mental Health awareness be arranged for all the appointed Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Champions and any County Councillors who wish to attend;

5.  A progress report be presented to the Health Scrutiny Steering Group in six months' time with attendance from the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Champions; and

6.  Progress be monitored by the Committee on an annual basis with an update report to be presented to the Health Scrutiny Committee in December 2018.