New “real time” suicide figures are published today by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, taking us up to Feb 2024.

The findings are striking.

Because after a reported rise in Jan, rates for Feb are back down. In fact, lower than any rate since data collection began 2yrs ago.

How to explain this?

🧵

In my local pharmacy, got into discussion about restrictions on analgesic sales.

One thing led to another.

Turns out sales person has just become a Samaritan.

#Suicideprevention is a whole society issue.

We recently conducted a national linkage study of suicides by people under drug/alcohol services.

428 deaths in a year, 1/12 of all suicides in E&W. Most were men. Many faced economic adversity.

Key message re joint working with MH services. NCISH

sites.manchester.ac.uk/ncish/reports/…

Pre-election rules on Govt advisers don’t restrict my day job. A few recent research findings:

Our 2024 report ⁦NCISH⁩ presents trends in suicide by MH patients. And new figs on
•autistic people
•public locations
•students
•young inpatients. sites.manchester.ac.uk/ncish/reports/…

South Stack on #Anglesey was in dense mist today, so here are some of last year’s photos of this stunning spot.

Today on the cliffs I made out just 2 puffins among thousands of guillemots & razorbills.

If you are on Ynys Môn next Sunday come pop along to the #AchubPenrhos #SavePenrhos rummage sale all proceeds to the fighting fund for court and legal fees at
Trearddur Bay village hall ll652YJ From 12-3 pm June 2nd

It concerns me when people use drones at coastal sites whose priority is to support wildlife.

Where there are birds coming off the sea to feed young. Dolphins & porpoises surfacing. Puffins & guillemots nesting.

I’ve seen it again today.

#Anglesey

Cemlyn today - the NW corner of Wales. One of the most stunning spots in the UK. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

#Anglesey

Busy week, with media focus on the election.

It has also been the anniversary of the 2017 Manchester #Arena bomb. An unbelievably callous act that felt like an attack on the whole city.

22 died that day, many were young people at a pop concert or the families collecting them.

We’re in pre-election “purdah”. Rules are clear, civil servants can’t go ahead with public-facing meetings. Same rules apply to me as Govt adviser on #suicideprevention .

It’s an important element of civil service impartiality.

Sorry about cancellations. See you on other side.

As a Manchester United fan/member: he has always responded with absolute honesty & dignity. 2 trophies in 2 yrs - he should be given longer.

Imagine if academics were expected to meet these standards?

louis appleby Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

louis appleby Life: a users manual - Perec, house of spirits - Allende, name your VWoolf, Poisonwood Bible- Kingsolver, the Neapolitan Quartet - Ferrante, Family Lexicon - Ginsburg.