A Conservative MP has earned cross-party plaudits after speaking in parliament about his attempt to take his own life and encouraging others to seek help.
Elliot Colburn held back tears after standing up during prime minister’s questions and speaking of how “luckily” his attempt in 2021 failed and he was found by family members quickly.
The MP, who has represented Carshalton and Wallington since December 2019, began by reminding a packed House of Commons chamber that February is Boost Your Self-Esteem Month 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,” he said as a hush fell.
“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.
“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,” he added, his voice initially cracking before he smiled as other MPs shouted “hear, hear” to the last part.
Colburn went on to say: “Does the prime minister agree that one death by suicide is one too many? And will he send a message from the dispatch box today that whatever you are going through, you are not alone, that help is out there, and better days lie ahead?”
There was applause and murmurs of approval from Conservative and opposition MPs as Colburn sat down, and Rishi Sunak told him that the whole house would commend him.
The prime minister said a new prevention strategy would have actions in place to reduce suicide in the coming years. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, later crossed the floor of the chamber to speak with Colburn.
Colburn told the Guardian that he came back to work a few weeks after the attempt and had what he described as “the flexibility and support to get back on track”.
“But I recognise not everyone is in that situation and it’s something that is still a bit of a taboo. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to speak about it until I did,” he added.
He said there was “a myriad” of things that led to the attempt. “I don’t think I can point to anyone though in particular. I was really nervous about talking to anyone and that certainly did not help, but it was telling how many people were ultimately there for me.”
He said: “I was just surrounded by amazing people and the NHS responded incredibly well, but obviously everyone’s experience is different and a lots of people don’t get the chance.”
MPs who paid tribute to Colburn on social media included the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting. “This is incredibly courageous and has the potential to provide encouragement and hope to others who have been through, or are going through, the same ordeal,” Streeting said.
In 2022 there were 5,275 suicides in England, equivalent to 10.6 per 100,000 people, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Last year ministers pledged to reverse the trend within two and a half years, as the government launched its first prevention strategy in more than a decade.
A government document that accompanied the launch highlighted how rates of suicide among children and young people had increased in recent years, despite being low overall, adding: “Urgent attention is needed to address and reverse these trends.”
• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. Youth suicide charity Papyrus can be contacted on 0800 068 4141 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
