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A Minister of Suicide Prevention was appointed to England by the Prime Minister as the government hosted the first-ever World Summit on Mental Health.
Theresa May said the appointment of Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price to this new role will help combat the stigma surrounding suicide.
As suicide rates decline, 4,500 people commit suicide each year.
The appointment comes as ministers and officials from more than 50 countries gather in London for the summit.
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Wednesday's meeting – hosted by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – coincides with World Mental Health Day.
Ms. May said, "We can end the stigma that has forced too many people to suffer in silence and prevent the tragedy of suicide from killing too many lives."
Coinciding with this announcement, the Prime Minister announced a 1.8 million pounds contribution to the Samaritans so that the charity could continue to provide its toll-free telephone service for the next four years.
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Jackie Doyle-Price to Lead National Effort to Reduce Suicide
Professor Louis Appleby of the University of Manchester, one of the leading suicide experts in the country, said this was an "important" initiative for the appointment of a Minister of suicide.
He said that suicide was not just a health problem, but involved many departments.
Having a minister would help "open doors" and facilitate conversations about suicide and the role of everything from benefits to online gambling.
But others have criticized the government's record on mental health.
Marjorie Wallace, Executive Director of Sane, a mental health charity, said: "We welcome this intention, but it is striking that the UK should hold such a summit when we hear daily about people left without treatment due to lack of nurses and doctors.
"This failure of psychiatric services has enormous social and economic consequences.
"Two years ago, Theresa May announced a comprehensive plan to combat the" hidden injustice "of mental illness in our country, yet in recent weeks there have been worrying reports that people are being held in custody. in police cells for six days, otherwise on the NHS beds, the children were referred to specialized services and lives were damaged due to long waits for treatment.
"The Prime Minister must examine our own mental health system before going to other countries."
