The Government has launched a £5 million fund to help suicide prevention services meet increased demand from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The
Suicide Prevention Grant Fund from The
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will make
£4 million in funding
available to enable voluntary community and social enterprise organisations (VCSE) that support suicide prevention to set up new projects or expand and continue existing services. The remaining £1 million in funding will be used to support existing and ongoing suicide prevention programmes.
The funding is intended
for groups who are high risk - those that have struggled most during the pandemic. This would include:
- Children and young adults
- People with pre-existing mental illness
- NHS and social care frontline staff who have ‘faced enormous pressure over the last 18 months’
The Government also says this can include those in contact with the criminal justice system.
Launched recently, the deadline for applications is 16th January 2022.
For
more information and how to apply, visit the Government
website.
If the issues covered here apply to you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know who may need help, you can seek support from Samaritans by calling them on their FREE 24/7 helpline on 116 123.