Samaritans Cymru exists to reduce the number of people who die by
suicide. Each year, between 300 and 350 people die by suicide in
Wales, which is around three times the number killed in road
accidents. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy that devastates
families, friends and communities.
Samaritans Cymru calls on the Welsh Government to adopt a
comprehensive and ambitious workstream for preventing suicides
connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach should
recognise the far reaching and unprecedented nature of the impact
of the Covid-19 crisis and that suicide prevention is a whole
population public mental health issue. The plan should be
responsive to emerging evidence and draw on existing strategy and
structures. It should recognise the importance of not medicalising
distress, of supporting a compassionate response and building
resilience, recognising and building on the capabilities of
individuals and communities. It should be informed by what we
already know about those who are at greatest risk and those actions
which are the most effective mitigations.
In the six weeks since lockdown began, we have provided emotional
support nearly 400,000 times. Callers have mentioned COVID-19
specifically in 1 in 3 emotional support contacts. We are seeing
significant caller concerns being expressed around mental health
and illness, family and relationships, isolation and loneliness.
Volunteers said some of the most common concerns include being
unable to access mental health services, reduced coping
mechanisms
– for instance through the loss of seeing friends, taking
part in hobbies or having a consistent routine and strained
relationships both from being separated from loved ones or tensions
rising in households. Lack of access to mental health services
(e.g. crisis teams, appointments) has been a major theme since the
beginning of the lockdown and is causing callers increasing levels
of distress. As lockdown is eased, we are hearing additional
reports of insufficient and inadequate support. Samaritans helpline
has been used as an alternative by some callers (Source, Samaritans
volunteer survey).
Volunteers have also told us that callers are concerned about the
impact on basic needs such as food, housing and employment.
Coronavirus and lockdown is exacerbating callers’ existing
conditions – mainly anxiety, but also depression, OCD and
others too. Levels of expressed suicidality in our callers appear
to have remained steady but anxiety has risen, with more callers
talking to us about anxiety and the level of anxiety being higher
(Source, Samaritans volunteer survey).
At Samaritans Cymru, we believe that preventative action and
reaching high-risk groups is vital to minimising the number of
people who reach crisis point. Suicide is not inevitable, and
preventing suicide needs to be approached with urgency.