Over the past decade, we, as a country, have made real progress in reducing deaths by suicide, but there is still more to do. We firmly believe that every life matters and no death by suicide is acceptable, nor inevitable.
We welcome this annual report by Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG). The NSPLG have put the voices of those with direct experience at the centre of their work and the report shows their intention to put that experience alongside other evidence and a robust research approach to support the reduction in the rate of deaths by suicide. The Scottish Government and COSLA have given careful consideration to the contents of the report and recommendations made. The Scottish Government and COSLA accept the recommendations and, further, both hope that these recommendations will be used to drive forward further work across key partners to prevent suicide.
It is important that we continue to raise awareness and promote more understanding of suicide in our society and want a Scotland where help and support is available in every community to anyone contemplating suicide or to people who have lost a loved one to suicide.
In response to the recommendations made in this report, the Scottish Government and COSLA will work together to facilitate engagement between key partners, both locally and nationally, to work with the NSPLG.
More information on the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group can be found here.
If you or someone you know experiences mental ill-health – or if you or someone else is feeling suicidal – support and advice is available from the following sources:
- Local General Practitioner / Primary Care Practices
- NHS24 – free 24 hours on shortcode 111
- Breathing Space – free on 0800 83 85 87 6pm to 2am Monday to Thursday; and 6pm Friday through the weekend to 6am Monday www.breathingspace.scot
- Samaritans – free 24 hours on shortcode 116 123. http://www.samaritans.org/yourcommunity/samaritans-work-scotland
- Childline – free on shortcode 0800 1111
