Suicide prevention strategy and action plan drafts: consultation

Joint Foreword

We are pleased to share the draft suicide prevention Strategy and Action Plan with you as part of our public consultation.

There is no doubt that we all experienced personal challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs of living. However, over the past few years we have seen communities and organisations across all sectors come together to support each other, including our most vulnerable people. They have provided practical support, connection and compassion – which we know are so important to our mental health and wellbeing.

We know that these impacts may be felt for some time. This makes it all the more important that we take stock and renew our efforts on suicide prevention. This Strategy and Action Plan is backed by the 2021-22 Programme for Government commitment to double funding for suicide prevention. We know suicide is often a result of a range of complex factors and circumstances in someone's life, but we also know there are things we can all do to support someone who is at risk of suicide.

Given the wide range of influences on suicide, we need to take an approach that builds suicide prevention across all parts of society. The new draft Strategy and Action Plan are designed to do exactly that.

The draft suicide prevention Strategy and Action Plan have been developed with people personally affected by suicide, as well as stakeholders and partners. It builds on the momentum from the Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Every Life Matters, published in 2018.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in our engagement events and who responded to our online questionnaire. Your views and experiences have already played a hugely important part in shaping the draft Strategy and Action Plan. This consultation is now an opportunity for you to tell us what you think of the draft Strategy and Action Plan.

Thank you again for taking the time to take part in this consultation and for sharing our ambition that by working together we can prevent suicide.

Kevin Stewart MSP

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care

Councillor Paul Kelly

COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care