Hushed house: Carshalton and Wallington MP Elliot Colburn received handshakes and pats on the back for his speech
Carshalton and Wallington MP Elliot Colburn received thanks from his own party leader and a handshake from Labour’s Keir Starmer in the House of Commons yesterday, as he bravely fought back the tears and gave a moving speech to a hushed chamber about how he tried to take his own life, but was saved by help and support from his family and local hospitals.
Colburn, 31, who has has been an MP since 2019, was called to speak during Prime Minister’s Question Time, and used the opportunity to tell of how he had attempted to end his life in 2021 as he felt that the “world would be better off without me in it”.
Colburn’s speech, in full, as recorded in Hansard, was:
“February marks Emotional Health, Boost Your Self Esteem and Children’s Mental Health Month.
“In recent years, about 6,500 people have died in the UK each year due to suicide. In 2021, I was nearly one of them.
“Luckily my attempt failed, I was found by family members quickly, I received amazing care at St Helier and Springfield hospitals, I did not do any permanent damage and I was well looked after by the NHS in the months that followed.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who saved me and sorry to my family and loved ones, whom I put through such an awful ordeal.
“In that moment, I felt alone and scared, like there was no way out, and that the world would be better off without me in it. But I do not recognise that man any more.
“I know that nothing is ever really worth that, that help really is out there — and I am pretty awesome. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”]
“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, help is out there and better days lie ahead?”
Responding, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, commended Colburn “for his bravery in sharing his story”, and said, “I can absolutely assure him that we take this issue incredibly seriously. 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 and their families, and we should do everything we can to prevent that from happening.”
- If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123.
- Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
- You can speak to a trained advisor from mental health charity Mind on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
