WIREDGOV

New strategy sets out commitments.

A new suicide prevention strategy aims to continue Scotland’s downward trend in suicides over the last ten years.

Since 2002, Scotland has seen an 18 per cent reduction in the suicide rate when most other countries have seen an increase.

This new strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s commitments on suicide prevention up to the end of 2016. It focuses on practical actions that can be taken to prevent suicide and looks at key areas for future work. These include:

These actions are based on evidence and analysis, for example from the Scottish Suicide Information Database which indicates that those who die by suicide tend to have had quite extensive contact across the range of health care services including GPs, A&E and acute hospitals.

Launching the strategy, Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said:

“Scotland has made real progress in suicide prevention. But we must build on that and keep reaching out to those who are at risk of suicide.

“This is exactly what this strategy is all about. It is another milestone in the progressive story of suicide prevention in Scotland.

“It continues the trend in previous strategies to focus on where the evidence leads. It echoes key messages – learned from practice and research – that suicide is preventable, that it is everyone’s business and that collaborative working is key to successful suicide prevention.

“We want this strategy to deliver better outcomes to people who are suicidal and who come to services, to their families and carers, to those not in contact with services, and we want to continue to improve our knowledge of what works in this complex field.

“We know that talking openly about suicide in a responsible manner saves lives. We have adopted that approach through the successful Choose Life campaigns “Suicide: Don’t hide it. Talk about it” and “Read Between the Lines” which have helped reduce the stigma which can be associated with suicide.

“In addition to the specific commitments which we have set out in the strategy, there is a broader focus of activities - not directly related to suicide prevention - but which, if taken forward effectively, contributes to reducing the overall rate of suicide. Activities such as building resilience and mental and emotional wellbeing in schools and in the general population; working to reduce inequality, discrimination and stigma; and the promotion of good early years services.

“All of this work must be undertaken in a context of being vigilant about improving mental health, supporting people who experience mental illness – and most importantly – about preventing suicide.”

Notes to editors

The full strategy can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/7616.

The Scottish Government’s Strategy to reduce suicide will focus on five key themes of work in communities and in services. These are:

The new strategy follows on from the Choose Life strategy (2002). There will continue to be a focus on public mental health approaches to suicide prevention, but the new strategy has a particular focus on action which services can take to support people at risk of suicide, based on research evidence which has emerged in recent years.

The aim is to deliver better outcomes to people who are suicidal and who come into contact with services, with more support for their families and carers.

However, it is also concerned with those who are not yet in contact with services, and with ways to improve knowledge of what works in this field.

The Minister was speaking at the Annual Choose Life Stakeholder Forum, co-hosted in Glasgow by NHS Health Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.