Carshalton & Wallington MP Elliot Colburn talks about his suicide attempt in PMQs

Transcript

00:00 We want to do something about it, which is why we need to get a deterrent up and running

00:04 and be able to send people to Rwanda. It's his party that opposes that, so the question

00:08 for them is why do they remain on the side of the criminal people smugglers?

00:14 Thank you Mr Speaker. February marks Emotional Health, Boost Your Self-Esteem and Children's

00:19 Mental Health Month. In recent years, something like 6,500 people die in the UK each year

00:25 due to suicide. In 2021, I was nearly one of them. Luckily, my attempt failed. I was

00:34 found by family members quickly. I received amazing care at St Helier and Springfield

00:40 hospitals, didn't do any permanent damage and was well looked after by the NHS in the

00:44 months that followed. I want to take this chance to say thank you to everyone who saved

00:49 me, and sorry to my family and loved ones who I put through such an awful ordeal.

00:55 In that moment, I felt alone and scared and like there was no way out, and that the world

01:01 would be better off without me in it. But I don't recognise that man anymore. I know

01:09 that nothing is ever really worth that. Help really is out there, and I'm pretty awesome.

01:17 Does the Prime Minister agree that one death by suicide is one too many? And will he send

01:22 a message from the Dispatch Box today that whatever you're going through, you are not

01:27 alone, that help is out there and better days lie ahead?

01:31 >>The Prime Minister I know the whole House will join me in commending

01:38 my hon. Friend for his bravery in sharing his story. I can absolutely assure him that

01:44 we take this issue incredibly seriously. The new suicide prevention strategy ensures that

01:49 we will have the actions in place to reduce suicide over the next years, because we absolutely

01:54 recognise the impact that it has on people, their families, and we should do everything

01:58 we can to prevent that from happening.