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Christian Medical Fellowship welcomes appointment of suicide prevention minister

Published: 15th October 2018

The announcement was made last week by Secretary of State Matt Hancock at a Government sponsored mental health summit, by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to coincide with World Mental Health Day.

Mrs Doyle-Price will co-ordinate the Governments efforts to reduce the number of suicides, which sees around 6,000 people a year take their lives.

Steven Fouch, Head of Communications at the Christian Medical Fellowship commented: "This long over due appointment, will I hope focus the minds of all those in Government that much more needs to be done to tackle our country's stubbornly high suicide rate, especially among young men. "In 2017, there were 5,821 suicides and although this represented a small decline, nearly 4,500 young men took their lives - a figure that has changed little for more than two decades. So that suicide remains the largest single killer of young males - under the age of 45."

Steven continued: "My colleagues and I look forward to meeting Mrs Doyle-Price and discussing how CMF doctors and nurses can support this invaluable work and move the debate away from assisted suicide and euthanasia, which is counter-productive to this initiative and on to how we can support vulnerable people, who feel their lives are simply not worth living. "In short CMF stand ready to support this work, but it will take the Government delivering on its commitment to revolutionise mental health services, investing in additional mental health support teams, ensuring easier access and funding real long term help for all."

Ends

For further information:

Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668

Media Enquiries:

Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225

About CMF:

Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.

CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.