Government and internet industry ‘lack strategy and direction’ on suicide prevention, report warns

Study finds ministers and internet giants are failing to take 'pro-active approach' on exploring links between suicide and online world

Mental health services are increasingly being offered online (Rex)

The Government and internet giants have been accused of “lacking strategy and direction” on suicide prevention, amid concerns that not enough research is being carried out on the impact of the online world on suicide rates.

A report based on evidence submitted by search engines, social media sites and charities finds that while work is being done to tackle mental health and prevent suicide, both ministers and the internet industry are failing to take a “pro-active approach” on exploring the links between suicide and the online world.

Recent research by the University of Bristol shows 8 per cent of people who were presented to hospital after a suicide attempt said they had used the internet in connection with their attempt, a figure which rises to 12 per cent for those aged 16-24.

Those who had self-harmed and were identified as having a high suicidal risk were even higher at 24 per cent, while among 21-year-olds who had made suicide attempts, almost three quarters had used or accessed suicide related material on the internet.

The new report, compiled by Conservative MP Grant Schapps, urges ministers to work more closely with suicide prevention charities and the internet industry to produce research on online behaviour of vulnerable individuals and actions to minimise harm.

It also encourages the Government to launch a more detailed public health strategy on online suicide prevention and enforce existing guidelines on the availability of suicide-related content.

Internet giants must ensure there are signposts to helplines and support sites and make better attempts to curb the auto-complete functions of search engines when suicide-related terms are searched for, the report states.

The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) on suicide deaths in the UK show there were 5,965 classified suicide deaths in the UK in 2016, which is a suicide rate of 10.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

While overall suicide rates in the UK fell by 4 per cent last year, marking the largest decrease in two decades, concern has been raised because the suicide rate among women between the ages of 20 and 24 is at its highest point on record.

The figures show that 118 women in this age group taking their own lives last year, compared with 67 in 2006 – a rise of 76 per cent. In exploring reasons for the rise, experts have highlighted the role of social media.

A recent analysis by The Independent also revealed that attempted suicides among out-of-work disability benefit claimants had more than doubled in the past decade.

Chief executive of Barnardo's, Javed Khan, said that while the Government’s recently published Green Paper on children’s mental health was a "step in the right direction", it lacked the "necessary vision and resources for a truly joined up system of prevention and support – both online and offline".

He added: “We know from our work with the UK's most vulnerable children about the positive and negative impact the internet can have on their lives. It is deeply concerning that material which effectively promotes suicide is so easily accessible online.

“Grant Shapps is correct that much more needs to be done to protect children from such shocking material. It’s vital the Government works closely with mental health charities, internet companies and content creators to work out when and how restricting such items is appropriate and necessary."

In light of the findings, Katie O'Donovan, UK public policy manager at Google, meanwhile said: “We take our duty to ensure that our platform is used responsibly and not to cause harm, very seriously.

“Mental health can be a complex issue; and so we partner and learn from leading experts in this area such as the The Samaritans. We are grateful for the insight of the report and look forward to continuing to work with a wide range of organisations on protecting people's mental health.”

The Government has been approached for comment.