Elliot Colburn: MP tells PMQs about suicide attempt

A London MP has spoken during Prime Minister's Questions about the time he tried to kill himself.

Elliot Colburn, the Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington, told MPs he had attempted suicide in February 2021.

He said he wanted send a message to those considering taking their own life that "help is out there".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commended him for his bravery and said the government took "this issue incredibly seriously".

Mr Colburn told MPs: "February marks emotional health, boost your self-esteem and children's mental health month. In recent years something like 6,500 people die in the UK each year due to suicide.

"In 2021 I was nearly one of them.

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"Luckily, my attempt failed, I was found by family members quickly, I received amazing care at St Helier and Springfield Hospitals, didn't do any permanent damage and was well looked after by the NHS in the months that followed.

"I want to take this chance to say thank you to everyone who saved me and sorry to my family and loved ones, who I put through such an awful ordeal.

"In that moment, I felt alone and scared, and like there was no way out, and that the world would be better off without me in it."

Visibly upset, Mr Colburn added: "I don't recognise that man any more. I know that nothing is ever really worth that, help really is out there, and I am pretty awesome."

As Mr Colburn sat down after sharing his story, his Conservative colleagues on surrounding benches reached out to pat him on the shoulder and comfort him.

The prime minister responded by saying: "I know the whole House will join me in commending him for his bravery in sharing his story and I can absolutely assure him that we take this issue incredibly seriously."

He added: "The new suicide prevention strategy ensures that we will have the actions in place to reduce suicide over the next years, because we absolutely recognise the impact that it has on people, their families, and we should do everything we can to prevent that from happening."

As Prime Minister's Questions ended and MPs began to leave the chamber, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer could be seen to approach Mr Colburn and speak to him, putting an arm on his shoulder as he did.

Speaking to Radio 4's PM programme in the hours following PMQs, Mr Colburn said he had not decided to share his story "until this very morning".

He said he hoped he might encourage people who are struggling with suicidal intentions to seek help.

Mr Colburn added that he "kept it very quiet" from his colleagues up until his House of Commons contribution, saying: "I didn't really want to talk about it until I felt more confident."

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