Key facts
- Matilda Davis, a 36-year-old parent-carer, died by suicide on October 3 last year.
- Social workers met Davis shortly before her death but did not ask about suicidal thoughts.
- A coroner ordered mandatory suicide prevention training for 600 staff at Warwickshire council.
- Andy Burnham supports extending this training to all local authorities in England.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has publicly supported the implementation of mandatory suicide prevention training for social workers across England. This stance follows the tragic death of Matilda Davis, a 36-year-old parent-carer, who died by suicide on October 3 last year, just minutes after an encounter with social workers. Davis had reportedly expressed significant distress and exhaustion due to her caregiving responsibilities and personal challenges. An inquest into her death revealed that social workers had not inquired about her suicidal ideation, leading the coroner to issue a notice mandating such training for staff at Warwickshire council. The proposal, championed by MP Manuela Perteghella and supported by Davis's family, aims to ensure that social care professionals are equipped to identify and address suicidal risk.