The health select committee has published its final report of its inquiry into suicide prevention.

NHS Providers contributed to the inquiry, which commenced in July 2016, through a written submission and oral evidence from Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy. 

The final report is a comprehensive and well-informed account of the strengths and weaknesses of the government's update to the suicide prevention strategy, and the risks which must be addressed to ensure its effective implementation. In particular, it gives detailed accounts of the demand and resourcing pressures on secondary mental health services and the negative impact that lack of funds and workforce are having on crisis resolution home treatment capacity. 

We welcome the committee's report, and especially its findings around the lack of clear funding and allocation processes to support quality, workforce and accessibility of secondary mental health services, and the recommendations to expand the provision of liaison psychiatry in acute hospitals.

This briefing summarises the key findings and recommendations of report and gives our view.