Richmond Council wants residents' views on a draft suicide and self-harm prevention strategy covering the next three years, and the survey is open until 15 October. It was drawn up with health services, voluntary groups and people with lived experience, and sets out six priorities including cutting stigma, making local support easier to find and stronger early help for children and young people, among whom self-harm is most common.
Borough-wide consultations rarely draw much from Barnes, Castelnau and Mortlake, which is a pity here: the schools, the sports clubs and the churches along Church Road are exactly the settings the strategy says it wants to work through, and a strategy written without them will read like one. Anyone in distress can call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, or Samaritans on 116 123, at any hour. The test will be what the final version commits to locally.
- Richmond Council is consulting residents, organisations and professionals on a draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy for 2026 to 2029.
- The consultation survey closes on 15 October.
- The strategy was developed with health services, voluntary organisations, people with lived experience and the Richmond and Wandsworth Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Partnership.
- The draft sets out six priorities, including tackling stigma, making help easier to find and supporting children and young people.
- The draft notes national evidence that self-harm is particularly common among young people, especially young women.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 11 September 2026.
- www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_september_2026/help_shape_suicide_and_self_harm_pr (council news)
- haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/richmondasd/rdsps-26/ (source)
Claim by claim (6 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- Richmond Council is consulting residents, organisations and professionals on a draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy for 2026 to 2029. — council news, 2026-09-08“Richmond Council is inviting residents, local organisations, professionals and people with lived experience to share their views on the borough's draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy for 20”
- The consultation survey closes on 15 October. — council news, 2026-09-08“Please read the draft strategy and complete the consultation survey by 15 October.”
- The strategy was developed with health services, voluntary organisations, people with lived experience and the Richmond and Wandsworth Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Partnership. — council news, 2026-09-08“The strategy has been developed with input from local partners, including health services, voluntary organisations, people with lived experience, and members of the Richmond and Wandsworth Suicide and”
- The draft sets out six priorities, including tackling stigma, making help easier to find and supporting children and young people. — source“It focuses on six priorities for action... 2. Tackling Stigma and Encouraging Open Conversations... 3. Making Help Easier to Find... 4. Supporting Children and Young People”
- The draft notes national evidence that self-harm is particularly common among young people, especially young women. — source“National evidence shows that self-harm is particularly common among young people, especially young women.”
- Support is available via NHS 111's mental health option and Samaritans on 116 123. — council news, 2026-09-08“contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option, call Samaritans on 116 123, or call 999 if someone is at immediate risk.”
- Judgement: Barnes schools, sports clubs and churches are the kind of settings the strategy proposes to work through, and local responses would strengthen it.
- Judgement: The measure of the exercise will be what the final strategy commits to locally.