A new 10-year suicide prevention strategy is to be unveiled today that seeks to bring the Scottish government and local councils together to tackle underlying social issues that lead to suicide, and to work more broadly to try to intervene more effectively to prevent people reaching the stage where they consider taking their own lives.

The ‘Creating Hope Together’ strategy is being described by the Scottish government and local authorities’ organisation COSLA as a ‘fresh approach’ that will help people at the earliest possible opportunity, as well as ensuring work being done to tackle risk factors such as poverty, debt and addiction includes consideration of how these measures might too reduce suicide.

The new strategy will include measures to widen support to everyone affected by suicide, including families, friends, and carers.

There will be additional investment in community groups that provide peer support groups to allow people to discuss their feelings. The Scottish government will fund the Scottish Recovery Network as part of an initial three-year action plan.

The strategy also sets out to prioritise work to reach people at heightened risk of suicide in a mix of community and workplace settings, as well as a continuing commitment to focus on meeting the needs of children and young people.

There will be a new focus on safety planning to try to keep people safe if they have suicidal thoughts.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart said:

“Every death by suicide is a tragedy and, while the number of deaths has fallen in recent years, I want to use every lever at our disposal to drive that down further.

“That’s why we are taking a new approach to suicide prevention – considering all the social issues that can lead people to feel suicidal, while supporting those contemplating suicide and their loved ones.

“Peer support is an effective way to support people in their communities, helping them to feel heard and understood. I’m pleased this strategy will provide funding for the Scottish Recovery Network to continue its vital work for people experiencing – and recovering from – mental health issues.”

Councillor Paul Kelly, the COSLA Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“This approach to suicide prevention will build on the work taking place across local areas in Scotland. It will see the partnerships across communities strengthened and build on the collaboration between local and national work to ensure we share the knowledge and insights to help drive suicide prevention forward.

“This strategy will see work which reaches into new areas beyond the traditional settings of health and social care such as education, justice and physical activity, so we can truly see suicide prevention as Everyone’s Business.”

Read more: Call to prioritise psychological therapies; Early intervention in youth suicidality often missed; Health and care in programme for government; Call to include elderly in suicide prevention strategy;

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