To ask the Minister of Finance, following publication of the March 2025 Samaritans report Lost Futures, whether he will consider cross-departmental suicide prevention budgets so that suicide prevention efforts can address the root causes of suicide.

ANSWER

I firmly support that suicide prevention is a shared Executive responsibility, reflected in the work of the Executive Working Group on Mental Well-being, Resilience and Suicide Prevention. Following Executive agreement of the 2025-26 Final Budget, all Ministers can consider prioritising funding within their own departmental allocations to address mental well-being and suicide prevention, as well as working with other Ministers to deliver services on a cross-departmental basis, where appropriate.