The Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030

We are consulting on the draft Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy for 2026-2030.

As our current Strategy for 2021-2025 comes to an end we are proud that suicide rates continue to fall while national rates increase but we know there is still much to be done.

Over the course of the next five years, our vision is to reduce the number of people dying by suicide as much as possible. By 2030 we would like:

  • children and young people in Kent and Medway to be resilient enough to cope with life’s normal ups and downs, but knowledgeable and confident enough to reach out for more support when they need it
  • adults in Kent and Medway to know how to look after their own emotional wellbeing but to feel comfortable and able to seek more help when necessary
  • all agencies (statutory, voluntary, community) to work collectively to ensure support and help is available to those who need it
  • all agencies to share knowledge and support each other to learn what works in helping people get the support they need.

Together with our values of collaboration, determination and sensitivity, and our priorities and actions, we aim to make Kent and Medway a place where hope is always available to anyone, not matter what they are facing.

The draft Strategy combines data and evidence about deaths from suicide in Kent and Medway with national research and policy direction. You can read the information gathered to support the draft Strategy in the Data and Evidence Pack.

The Strategy has been developed with the Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Network, which consists of over 250 partners working together to reduce the number of suicides in Kent and Medway for both adults and children and young people.

Your views are important in helping us to make sure that we have taken on board feedback from anyone who is interested in having their say around suicide and self-harm prevention.

Have your say

You can tell us your views on the draft Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030 by completing the online consultation questionnaire.

If you cannot complete the online questionnaire, a Word version is available to download from this webpage which you can complete and return either by email or post. Paper copies are available on request.

If you have questions about the draft Strategy or need any support to take part in the consultation, you can contact us via the contact details under the 'Who's listening' section on this webpage.

The consultation closes at midnight on Monday 6 October 2025.

What happens next

Following the end of this consultation, responses will be analysed, and we will publish the consultation report on this webpage.

The feedback will be carefully considered and used to help finalise the Strategy and Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA).

The consultation report, along with the EqIA, and the final draft Strategy is expected to be presented at the Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee in early 2026.

Details of any decisions and a link to the final Strategy will be published on this webpage.

We are consulting on the draft Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy for 2026-2030.

As our current Strategy for 2021-2025 comes to an end we are proud that suicide rates continue to fall while national rates increase but we know there is still much to be done.

Over the course of the next five years, our vision is to reduce the number of people dying by suicide as much as possible. By 2030 we would like:

  • children and young people in Kent and Medway to be resilient enough to cope with life’s normal ups and downs, but knowledgeable and confident enough to reach out for more support when they need it
  • adults in Kent and Medway to know how to look after their own emotional wellbeing but to feel comfortable and able to seek more help when necessary
  • all agencies (statutory, voluntary, community) to work collectively to ensure support and help is available to those who need it
  • all agencies to share knowledge and support each other to learn what works in helping people get the support they need.

Together with our values of collaboration, determination and sensitivity, and our priorities and actions, we aim to make Kent and Medway a place where hope is always available to anyone, not matter what they are facing.

The draft Strategy combines data and evidence about deaths from suicide in Kent and Medway with national research and policy direction. You can read the information gathered to support the draft Strategy in the Data and Evidence Pack.

The Strategy has been developed with the Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Network, which consists of over 250 partners working together to reduce the number of suicides in Kent and Medway for both adults and children and young people.

Your views are important in helping us to make sure that we have taken on board feedback from anyone who is interested in having their say around suicide and self-harm prevention.

Have your say

You can tell us your views on the draft Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030 by completing the online consultation questionnaire.

If you cannot complete the online questionnaire, a Word version is available to download from this webpage which you can complete and return either by email or post. Paper copies are available on request.

If you have questions about the draft Strategy or need any support to take part in the consultation, you can contact us via the contact details under the 'Who's listening' section on this webpage.

The consultation closes at midnight on Monday 6 October 2025.

What happens next

Following the end of this consultation, responses will be analysed, and we will publish the consultation report on this webpage.

The feedback will be carefully considered and used to help finalise the Strategy and Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA).

The consultation report, along with the EqIA, and the final draft Strategy is expected to be presented at the Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee in early 2026.

Details of any decisions and a link to the final Strategy will be published on this webpage.

  • Have your say!

    We would like to hear your views on the draft Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2026-2030.

    We recommend that you read the Strategy before completing this questionnaire.

    The questionnaire is split into five parts: 

    Part 1 – About you
    Part 2 – Feedback on the Strategy (including key areas of focus for children and young people)
    Part 3 – Anything else you would like to tell us about the Strategy?
    Part 4 – Equality analysis
    Part 5 – More about you

    You can answer all or as many of the questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a question, just move on to the next one.

    In line with other local authorities and government departments, we ask people to register to take part in some activities. We do this to protect the integrity of our consultations from individuals and groups who may attempt to unduly influence the outcomes of the consultation process and to give people the opportunity to choose to be kept informed. It also means that you will receive an email with your answers to the questionnaire once you have submitted it. 

    As with all our consultations a Word version of the questionnaire is available from the consultation webpage for people who would prefer not to complete the online version.

    Please do not include any personal information that could identify you or anyone else in any of your answers. 

    Complete questionnaire