AS REPORTED in the Warrington Guardian last week, mental health services in Warrington have been slammed as 'not fit for purpose'.

That's from HealthWatch Warrington, a not-for-profit organisation that looks to speak up for patients in the town.

The Office for National Statistics has released the latest figures for suicide rates across the country, with Warrington registering 14 suicides in 2021.

Tragically, this is up from the 11 deaths by suicide that were registered in 2020.

However, it is still significantly lower than the number registered in 2019 - which was 26.

Warrington's suicide rate sits at 0.9 per 100,000, which makes it the lowest across local authorities in Cheshire and Merseyside.

HealthWatch Warrington's latest report issued a damning indictment on the services provided to patients seeking mental health treatment - with more than 80 per cent of patients waiting longer than 10 months for an appointment with a specialist.

Responding to the report, a spokesperson for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust said: "We recognise the importance of providing a timely and effective service and have recently embarked on a transformation programme to make sure appropriate support is available when and where children and young people need it most."

20 members of school staff in Warrington said that they had no faith in Warrington's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

The report also noted that GPs were reporting a 90 per cent increase in demand for their services.

Responding to the statistics from the ONS, the Samaritans - a suicide prevention charity - said the figures are 'more worrying evidence that not enough is being done to drive down our high suicide rates.'

Warrington's suicide rate over the three years (2019-21) stood at nine suicides per 100,000 people - which is lower than the national average of 10.7 per 100,000.

Rethink Mental Illness highlighted that there is a 'worrying' national trend of rising suicide rates amongst females under the age of 24 - which was at 2.5 per 100,000, but in 2021 this had risen to 3.6 for every 100,000.

A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: "Over the last two years, a range of projects have been running in Warrington funded by NHS England and targeted mainly at the 'working age population' as the latest Warrington data suggests those aged 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 both have the highest age-specific rates.

"Similarly, activities have been delivered such as a series of walks across Warrington with the aim of improving women’s mental health and wellbeing. 

"In addition, PAUSE, the community-based listening space at the Gateway has opened, providing people who are struggling with their mental health and well-being a place where they can talk without judgement and access information and support or activities that will make a positive impact. Partners also work hard to provide bereavement support for those who are sadly affected by someone else’s suicide."

If you are struggling with your mental health, you can use Warrington's 'Happy, OK, Sad' service online here, or contact the Samaritans on 116 123.