Every death by suicide is a tragedy that affects families, friends, colleagues, workplaces and communities. Suicide can have a profound and lasting impact on those left behind and on the wider community. While the causes of suicide are often complex and differ from person to person, many suicides can be prevented through early support, effective services, strong communities and coordinated action.
The One Devon Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2026-2031 sets out how organisations across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay will work together to reduce suicide and improve support for people affected by suicide and self-harm over the next five years. The strategy has been developed in partnership between local authorities, NHS organisations, voluntary and community organisations, education providers, emergency services and many other partners. It aligns with the national Suicide Prevention Strategy for England and provides a shared framework for local action.
Our vision
Our vision is that all suicides should be considered preventable and that suicide prevention is everyone’s business. We want to see a sustained reduction in suicide rates across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and ensure that everyone can access support when they need it. We also want to create communities where people feel connected, supported and able to talk openly about mental health and wellbeing
Our aims
The strategy has three overarching aims:
- Reduce the suicide rate over the next five years.
- Improve support for people who self-harm.
- Improve support for people affected by suicide bereavement.
How we will work
The strategy is built around several key principles.
Partnership working
Suicide prevention requires a whole-system approach. No single organisation can prevent suicide alone. Success depends on effective partnership working between health services, local authorities, voluntary organisations, schools and colleges, employers, emergency services and local communities.
Listening to lived experience
People with personal experience of suicide, self-harm, bereavement and mental health crisis have valuable insights that can help improve services and shape future priorities.
Tackling inequalities
Some individuals and communities experience greater risk of suicide than others. The strategy seeks to ensure services and support are inclusive, accessible and responsive to differing needs.
Using evidence and learning
Decisions will be informed by data, research, reviews and feedback so that services continue to improve and respond to emerging challenges.
Strategic Priorities
1. Improving Data and Evidence
High-quality information helps us understand who is most at risk, identify emerging trends and target support where it is most needed.
Key areas of work include:
- Developing a One Devon Suicide Prevention Dashboard that brings together information from multiple sources.
- Improving understanding of risk among groups where evidence is emerging, including people experiencing homelessness, gambling harms, neurodivergence, military service and other vulnerabilities.
- Sharing learning from suicide reviews, audits, safeguarding reviews, child death reviews and other investigation processes to improve practice across the system.
2. Providing Tailored Support for Priority Groups
While suicide prevention benefits everyone, some groups have been identified nationally and locally as requiring additional attention and support.
2.1 Children and Young People
Although suicide remains uncommon among children and young people, rates have increased over recent years.
The strategy aims to:
- Improve awareness of self-harm and suicide among young people, parents, carers and professionals.
- Support schools, colleges and further education providers to develop suicide prevention policies.
- Support universities to implement national suicide prevention guidance.
- Help young people develop resilience and learn ways to support their own mental wellbeing.
2.2. Middle-Aged Men
Men are significantly more likely to die by suicide than women, with middle-aged men having the highest suicide rates.
Work will focus on:
- Increasing support in male-dominated workplaces and industries.
- Challenging stigma around men’s mental health.
- Promoting suicide prevention awareness and training.
- Encouraging conversations about wellbeing in community settings where men may feel more comfortable seeking support.
2.3 People Who Self-Harm
Self-harm is one of the strongest indicators of future suicide risk.
The strategy will:
- Improve understanding of local need.
- Review support and pathways against national guidance.
- Raise awareness and challenge stigma.
- Promote safety planning and access to appropriate support.
2.4 People in Contact with Mental Health Services
Many people who die by suicide have previously been in contact with mental health services.
Priorities include:
- Improving continuity of care.
- Ensuring timely follow-up after discharge from inpatient services.
- Using learning from reviews and investigations to improve safety.
- Supporting services to follow national best practice and clinical guidance.
2.5 People in Contact with the Criminal Justice System
People in contact with police, probation services and prisons experience higher rates of suicide and self-harm.
The strategy will work with criminal justice partners to improve support throughout the justice pathway, including support when leaving prison.
2.6 Neurodivergent People
Research suggests autistic people and people with ADHD may face increased suicide risk.
The strategy will:
- Promote neurodivergent-inclusive approaches.
- Support earlier identification and assessment.
- Improve support during key transitions, such as moving into adulthood.
2.7 Pregnant Women and New Parents
Suicide remains a leading cause of maternal death after pregnancy.
The strategy aims to ensure women and parents experiencing complex challenges receive coordinated, person-centred support, particularly where there are safeguarding concerns or involvement with children’s services.
3. Addressing Factors Linked to Suicide Risk
Many factors that increase suicide risk can be addressed through prevention and early intervention.
3.1 Physical Health Conditions
Living with chronic illness, pain or life-changing health conditions can have a significant impact on mental wellbeing.
The strategy will support healthcare professionals to better recognise suicide risk and ensure mental wellbeing is considered alongside physical health.
3.2 Financial Difficulties and Unemployment
Debt, unemployment and financial hardship can increase stress and contribute to suicide risk.
The strategy aims to strengthen links between suicide prevention, employment support, financial advice and wider economic initiatives.
3.3 Gambling Harms
Growing evidence links gambling-related harm with suicide risk.
The strategy will improve awareness, promote training and increase signposting to specialist gambling support.
3.4 Alcohol and Drug Use
Alcohol and drug use can increase vulnerability, particularly when combined with other challenges such as poor mental health, homelessness or domestic abuse.
Partners will work together to improve learning, prevention and access to appropriate support.
3.5 Social Isolation and Loneliness
Feeling disconnected from others is strongly linked with poor mental health and suicide risk.
The strategy will:
- Promote community connections.
- Improve signposting to social prescribing and local activities.
- Raise awareness of the impact of bereavement and relationship breakdown.
3.6 Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse significantly increases the risk of suicide for victims, children affected by abuse and, in some cases, perpetrators.
The strategy seeks to strengthen links between suicide prevention, safeguarding and domestic abuse services through training, awareness raising and improvements to multi-agency processes.
4. Promoting Online Safety and Responsible Media Reporting
The internet can provide valuable information and support, but it can also expose people to harmful content.
The strategy will:
- Work with local media to encourage responsible reporting of suicide.
- Promote positive messaging around mental health and wellbeing.
- Raise awareness of online harms and online safety.
- Support social media moderators and online communities to manage potentially harmful content appropriately.
5. Providing Effective Crisis Support
When someone experiences a mental health crisis, it is essential that support is available quickly and that people know where to turn.
The strategy will:
- Improve understanding of available crisis services.
- Support learning and improvement across crisis pathways.
- Explore community-based alternatives such as crisis cafés, safe havens and sanctuaries.
- Increase community capacity through training and awareness programmes.
6. Reducing Access to Means and Methods of Suicide
Evidence shows that reducing access to methods of suicide can save lives.
Key actions include:
- Developing a coordinated response plan for suicide clusters.
- Working with partners responsible for highways, railways, bridges and coastal locations to improve safety.
- Using planning and design processes to reduce risks in the built environment.
- Exploring opportunities to improve medication safety where appropriate.
7. Supporting People Bereaved by Suicide
People bereaved by suicide can experience intense grief and may themselves be at increased risk of mental health difficulties.
The strategy will:
- Improve access to timely bereavement support.
- Develop consistent approaches to supporting schools and educational settings affected by suicide.
- Help organisations put plans in place so staff and communities receive appropriate support following a suicide.
8. Making Suicide Prevention Everybody’s Business
Everyone can play a role in preventing suicide.
The strategy aims to:
- Increase awareness and understanding across communities.
- Promote training and learning opportunities.
- Improve access to suicide prevention resources.
- Increase awareness of safety planning.
- Share learning and progress across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.
- Involve people with lived experience in shaping services.
- Support wider trauma-informed approaches across the system.
Getting Help
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available.
NHS Mental Health Support
Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
Samaritans
Call 116 123 free, 24 hours a day.
Shout
Text SHOUT to 85258 for confidential text support.
Emergency Help
If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
For local mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention support available across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, please visit our support directory.
Full PDF version (downloadable)
If you would like to see the full strategy in another format please contact [email protected]
