LAST week on World Mental Health Day, I was very pleased that the Prime Minister announced my appointment as the UK’s first dedicated minister for suicide prevention working across Government to realise the ambition to reduce suicides by 10% by 2020.

Too often, people who are contemplating suicide feel unable to talk about how they are feeling.

Or worse, the very services meant to protect them are inaccessible and do not provide the support that a person needs when they’re struggling. So there is a clear role for national and local government working together in helping those that need our support.

Nationally, this is underpinned by a significant expansion of mental health services over the last few years. Locally, every area of the country has been asked to develop a suicide prevention plan – backed by an additional £25million funding. I will work with local areas to find out what works so that we can make a real difference.

We have also given £1.8 million for the Samaritans to keep their helpline free for the next four years, giving people a space to talk. I am very grateful for the work of all the volunteers who give their support by being at the end of that telephone, 24 hours a day.

And I will be chairing the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group, joining up suicide and self-harm prevention experts, third-sector organisations – including the Samaritans, Support After Suicide and If U Care Share – and clinicians with families and loved ones affected by suicide.

It has been very humbling to receive so many expressions of goodwill and so many people wanting to share their experience. In some cases from people who considered taking their own life. It is clear that suicide has touched many people and it is clear that there is much to be gained from making prevention a priority.