Agenda and minutes

At the start of the meeting, the Chair drew attention to the fact that this Task Group, although open to the public, was not livestreamed on You Tube due to the sensitive nature of the topic which may be potentially triggering for some people. Members supported and approved this arrangement.

Draft minutes of 19 June 2024 to follow.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2024 be approved as a correct record.

A representative from Lancashire MIND has been invited to the meeting to discuss this issues raised by this review.

Karen Arrowsmith from Lancashire MIND attended the meeting. She gave details of the latest campaigns and projects they offer relating to suicide prevention, including:

-       The orange button pledge – a regional trial is being carried out this year, in partnership with the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Samaritans, with a view to rolling out in future years.

-       Self harm safe kits (in partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB) – they include first aid kits, signposting information and “distraction strips” for children

-        Free e-learning

She indicated that Lancashire MIND was connecting with organisations supporting a range of vulnerable groups (including the five target groups such as LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse people) to deliver training on self harm and access to information that will be free for all. 

The Chair thanked Karen Arrowsmith for her presentation and looked forward to working with Lancashire MIND to promote awareness and education around suicide prevention.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Paragraph 1: Information relating to an individual.

Paragraph 2: Information likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Resolved – That the public and press be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Paragraph 1: Information relating to an individual.

Paragraph 2: Information likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

A representative from LCC Public Health has been invited to the meeting to provide relevant information.

Marie Demaine, Public Health Specialist at Lancashire County Council, gave a presentation regarding the latest position with regard to public health data on suicide.

She explained that a full audit was currently being carried out in Lancashire.

Lancashire was in the top five highest suicide rates in the UK and as such had attracted funding.

The England average suicide rate was 2.5 per 100,000. Chorley’s suicide rate of 14.8.% was considerably higher.

In addition, suicide was one of the leading causes of death in men under 50, which was reflected in the Chorley figures as significantly higher for males.

She indicated that data for neurodiverse people was now recorded, but not yet publicly available.

She referred to the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023 – 2028 which cited LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse people as vulnerable target groups.

A localised Action Plan was being developed for Lancashire.

Responding to a query from the Task Group, Ms Demaine indicated that she could provide more detailed mapping data for Chorley i.e. by ward, or locations most associated with suicide risk, and other contributory factors. This would be part of the full audit being carried out.

The Chair thanked Marie Demaine for her attendance and looked forward to the additional data.