A BOLD new strategy aimed at reducing suicide rates and improving support for people who self-harm is being launched today by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy.

The Welsh Government’s 10-year Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Strategy focuses on creating a more compassionate approach to understanding and responding to suicide and self-harm. Drawing on the lived experiences of those affected, the strategy seeks to reduce stigma and foster an environment where people feel able to ask for help without fear or judgement.

To support this work, the Welsh Government is investing more than £2 million in the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-harm at Swansea University, through Health and Care Research Wales. This marks a major step forward in deepening understanding of these complex issues.

The new strategy outlines six key priorities:

• Listening and learning – Building a robust evidence base by listening to those with lived experience.
• Preventing – Addressing the underlying risk factors that can lead to suicide and self-harm.
• Empowering – Tackling stigma and encouraging open conversations.
• Supporting – Improving services for those who self-harm or experience suicidal thoughts.
• Equipping – Ensuring services across Wales can identify and support those at risk.
• Responding – Providing timely, compassionate, person-centred help after suspected suicides.

The strategy acknowledges that suicide and self-harm can affect anyone, but certain age and gender groups are more vulnerable. Suicide is most prevalent among men aged 30 to 55, while self-harm is more common in young women aged 15 to 19. These insights inform the strategy’s tailored approach to support.

It also highlights the link between self-harm and suicide, underlining the need to treat all incidents of self-harm with seriousness, empathy, and care.

Minister Sarah Murphy said: “This ambitious strategy focuses on building understanding, prevention, and compassionate support for everyone affected by suicide and self-harm.

By working across government departments and with our partners, we’re tackling the root causes while ensuring immediate help is available to those who need it.

It’s through supporting and working with third sector organisations like the Samaritans that we will achieve the ambitions set out in our Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Strategy.”

Joshua, who received support from the Samaritans after experiencing suicidal thoughts, said: “I see a generational issue where older men don’t speak about their mental health because they grew up in a time when it wasn’t discussed.

Nowadays, people are more open about mental health, which is great. But there are still boys and men my age who feel it’s too wimpy or embarrassing to talk about it. Even though the conversation is improving, that stigma still exists.”

The strategy builds on recent progress made in Wales, including:

• The launch of a national advice service for those affected by suicide.
• New guidance for agencies supporting people bereaved by suicide.
• Improved access to mental health services through single points of contact for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).
• The national rollout of the 111 press 2 urgent mental health helpline.

Information from the Real-Time Suspected Suicide Surveillance (RTSSS) system – which collects data from police forces – will be used alongside a lived experience framework to guide future policies and services.

The National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-harm has been appointed as an advisory body to the Welsh Government, and a dedicated National Suicide and Self-harm team has been established within the NHS Executive to drive delivery of the strategy across Wales.

RCN says inaction threatens workforce stability and patient care

TODAY marks the start of the 2025/26 financial year, but thousands of nursing staff across Wales are still waiting to hear what their pay rise will be. The Welsh Government has not yet announced this year’s NHS pay award, leaving health workers in uncertainty during a time of continuing economic pressure.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has criticised the delay, warning that it undermines staff morale and exacerbates an already fragile workforce situation. According to the latest figures, there are over 2,000 nursing vacancies across Wales, with staff retention falling and student recruitment struggling to keep pace with demand.

Last year, after months of industrial unrest, NHS nursing staff in Wales accepted a revised pay offer from the Welsh Government. The 2023/24 deal included a 5% consolidated increase and a one-off payment of at least £900. At the time, Welsh ministers said the agreement represented the best possible offer within the limits of the funding available from Westminster.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said during the 2023 negotiations: “We are working within a fixed budget and have had to make difficult decisions to prioritise frontline services. We continue to urge the UK Government to provide the necessary funding for fair pay across the NHS.”

That context remains unchanged in 2025, with Welsh ministers stating in recent months that without additional funding from the UK Government, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fund public sector pay awards without affecting other services. The Welsh Government has frequently highlighted that it does not receive ringfenced health pay funding and must make choices within the block grant provided via the Barnett formula.

Nevertheless, the RCN says the failure to confirm this year’s NHS pay uplift on time is unacceptable.

Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, said: “The continued delay in announcing the NHS pay award is unacceptable. Nursing staff are essential to patient care, yet once again, they find themselves at the bottom of government priorities.”

“Nursing staff are the backbone of the NHS and cannot be expected to deliver the reforms needed to save it if Welsh Government can’t even pay them fairly and on time. The Welsh Government must take responsibility and act now to ensure nursing staff receive a fair and timely pay rise. At the same time, they must hold Westminster to account for failing to properly fund NHS Wales.”

Health unions are calling for clarity in the coming days to avoid further disruption and to reassure staff who are already facing high workloads and rising living costs.

The Welsh Government has been approached for an updated comment regarding the current delay.

A MONKTON man who compared a female police officer to TV character Vicky Pollard during a nightclub incident has been fined after admitting causing alarm or distress.

Police were called to the nightclub in the early hours of March 28 following reports of a disturbance.

“It was around 3:00am and a number of police officers were present as a result of a dispute concerning the defendant,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest magistrates on Monday (Mar 31). “He believed he’d been the victim of a robbery.”

During the altercation, 28-year-old Boswell pointed at one of the female officers and said he didn’t want to speak to her.

“He called her fat, and likened her to Vicky Pollard,” added Mr Davies.

Boswell was also seen pushing out towards his ex-partner.

“He didn’t make contact with her and no injuries were caused, but he was out of order,” Mr Davies continued.

Boswell pleaded guilty to causing a police officer alarm or distress, and to assaulting his ex-partner by beating. He was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“Being remanded in custody for a number of days since the offence may be sufficient punishment for the defendant,” said Mr Lloyd. “He’s recently been drinking heavily as a result of a family bereavement that’s upset him very much, but he now realises that he needs to sort himself out. His family are not impressed and will not tolerate this sort of behaviour.”

Boswell was fined £240 and ordered to pay a £96 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

“This was a foolish thing to do and has proved a very expensive night out,” commented the presiding magistrate.