Last month I wrote to the Lead for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. The current lead, Professor Louis Appleby, has a prominent social media presence and naturally many of his considerations relate to suicide and strategies that might prevent it.
In my communication I expressed a determination, like all healthcare workers, to help address suicide and its consequences. I shared my view that to do so we need to keep our minds open, to listen, hear, and engage with all voices.
I have followed discussions on suicide prevention for some years now. I have noticed, at least what appears to me, a pattern: that the Lead for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England does not seem to engage on social media with those who have experienced less than positive experiences of psychotropic medications. Experiences including akathisia, impulsivity and suicidality.
In my communication I said that I wanted to seek a better understanding of suicide prevention and that I planned to share this on my blog.
Professor Appleby replied to say that I was “wrong” about what I had said in relation to his engagement on social media about subjects such as prescribed harm and akathisia. As a National lead for Suicide Prevention he went on to say that I was “threatening” him with “public exposure” on my blog and that he would “not be replying further”. 
The following film presents missed opportunities, in particular the potential role of prescribed medications as risk factors for suicide . This film presents a timeline from 2002 to 2019 in relation to England’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
A Timeline of Missed Opportunities:
If anybody wishes to share discussions that they have had with the National lead for Suicide Prevention for England on social media in realtion to the potential role of psychiatric drugs and suicidality or suicide please add a comment below. If you would wish to do so anonymously please contact me at peter@holeousia.com and I will ensure this.