A NEW prevention plan is being put in place to tackle increasing rates of suicide in Brighton and Hove.

In September, it was revealed suicide rates in the city were at a ten-year high according to latest available figures for 2015-17, with 113 people ending their lives.

Now, the city council has put together a strategy with the aim of reducing this by ten per cent by 2020/21.

Almost three quarters of suicide victims who died between 2006-17 were men, according to a report to the authority’s health and wellbeing board.

Suicide rates were falling until the 2010-2012 period and have increased since. Priority groups targeted in the new plan include men aged 30 to 54, people with existing mental health problems and people who self-harm. Veterans are highlighted as higher risk along with care leavers and survivors of abuse.

The report says the council is working with pubs, sports organisations, music venues and others to raise awareness.

Those living in areas of deprivation, the LGBTQ community, people with drug and alcohol problems, members of the black and minority ethnic community, those with physical health problems and young adults are also priority groups.

During 2017-18, 169 people from 100 organisations received training from Grassroots Suicide Prevention.

The report said an important way to reduce suicide among high risk groups was to increase suicide prevention training which was important to enable those who work with people at risk to effectively support them.

More than 4,000 mental health crisis cards have been distributed to the city’s universities, hostels, seafront team and mental health services and supported accommodation.

The council will work with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services, as well as GPs and Sussex Police to support awareness and training.

Reducing the risk of suicide by repairing and maintaining cliff-side fences and using Samaritans signs along the seafront are also part of the strategy.