Scottish Government, COSLA and Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group (NSPAG) today (20 November 2024) announce the appointment of Professor Christine Goodall as it’s new chair. 

Professor Goodall’s appointment has been confirmed by Minister for Mental Wellbeing Maree Todd and COSLA’s spokesperson for Health & Social Care, Councillor Paul Kelly following a competitive process, which included someone with lived and living experience of suicide.

The National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group provides independent advice to the Scottish Government, COSLA and Suicide Prevention Scotland on the delivery of the Scottish Government and COSLA’s Creating Hope Together: Scotland’s ten year suicide prevention strategy.

Members of the group are selected because of their understanding about the complexities and inequalities of suicide, these are critical to achieving the strategy’s vision of reducing suicide whilst tackling the inequalities which contribute to suicide.

The group also offers an independent assessment of progress on delivery of this ambitious strategy. Taken together, the group’s advice and assessment of progress is allowing the suicide prevention strategy to achieve most impact.

Suicide Prevention Scotland is the community of people and organisations that work together to deliver the strategy, Creating Hope Together.

Christine Goodall is Professor of Oral Surgery and Violence Reduction at the University of Glasgow.

In 2008, she founded Medics Against Violence (MAV) which now runs a range of violence reduction programmes in hospitals, communities and schools. This includes the Navigators and Youth Navigators programmes. As a surgeon, an academic and an innovator in her work around violence reduction, Christine has been instrumental in making change that improves peoples’ lives.

To mark the start of her tenure, Professor Goodall visited Who Cares? Scotland, to learn about the experiences of the care experienced community, who are  a priority group in the suicide prevention strategy. Christine succeeds Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM as chair.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd comments:

“Christine's groundbreaking work to help people affected by violence by reducing stigma and finding innovative ways to support them, will be invaluable in shaping the delivery of our 10-year strategy.

“She brings a wealth of knowledge – as a surgeon and an academic - and a collaborative, compassionate approach - always putting people at the heart of her work.

“Her appointment as Chair of our National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group brings new opportunities to our suicide prevention work in Scotland.”

COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly says:

“COSLA welcomes the appointment of Christine Goodall as chair of NSPAG.

“The advisory group has played a key role over the first year of delivery of Creating Hope Together and we are grateful, as co-owners of the Suicide Prevention Strategy, for their advice and recommendations.

“We recognise that to deliver on our joint strategy we need strong, collaborative partnerships across and beyond national and local government, and NSPAG is strategically placed to deepen the impact of our collective work.

“We look forward to working with Christine and members of NSPAG as we progress work to reduce suicide in Scotland.”

Professor Christine Goodall, NSPAG’s new chair comments:

“I’m honoured to be asked to take on the role because it is such important work. I am very conscious I have big shoes to fill with Rose Fitzpatrick moving after having such an impact.

“I think we are in a good space to be a critical friend to the suicide prevention movement in Scotland, building on the work so far. I will bring a new perspective as someone who works in academia and the NHS, but this is not just about me.

“We have excellent people from many different spheres with professional experience that will be able to meaningfully contribute to our work.”

ENDS

Issued by Electrify on behalf of the National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group and Suicide Prevention Scotland.