Creating Hope Together: suicide prevention strategy 2022 to 2032

Annex A – Every Life Matters: Key Achievements

Table 1 Every Life Matters Action Plan: Suicide prevention action in Scotland 2018-2022

Action 1 – support for local action planning

Key achievements

• Publication of Local Area Action Plan Guidance^[11]
• Established opportunities for local leads to share experience and provide peer support
• Established Implementation Lead roles in Public Health Scotland

Action 2 – refreshed mental health and suicide prevention learning resources

Key achievements

• Development of Mental Health Improvement & Suicide Prevention Framework^[12]
• Development of free Ask, Tell, Respond resources and facilitation packs to support delivery^[13]

Action 3 – co-ordinated approach to public awareness campaigns

Key achievements

• Developed United to Prevent Suicide (UtPS) social movement
• @_FCUnited campaign
• Better tomorrow social media campaign aimed at young people

Action 4 – timely effective support for those affected by suicide

Key achievements

• Pilot Bereaved by Suicide support service
• Cruse workplace support

Action 5 – crisis support recommendations

Key achievements

• Time, Space and Compassion report

Action 6 – Support innovations in digital technology

Key achievements

• Surviving Suicidal Thoughts – NHS inform vlogs

Action 7 – actions targeted at risk groups

Key achievements

• Improved understanding of the needs of veterans & racialised communities
• Supported by a number of Action 3 campaigns
• Improved understanding of risk and protective factors

Action 8 – consider the needs of children and young people in all actions

Key achievements

• Establishment of Youth Advisory Group (YAG)
• (as above) Better tomorrow social media campaign aimed at young people
• Development of Ask, Tell, Respond resources for the workforce – to support needs of children and young people

Action 9 – data, evidence and guidance used to maximise impact

Key achievements

• Establishment of Academic Advisory Group (AAG) providing evidence and intelligence to support delivery of all actions
• Establishment of Lived Experience Panel (LEP) – recognised by World Health Organisation (WHO) as good practice example of meaningful participation.

Action 10 – develop multi-agency reviews into all deaths by suicide

Key achievements

• Review process developed and tested in three areas with key learning identified

In July 2020, to address concerns about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population’s mental health and potential for suicide, four additional actions were added to the existing plan.

Action

1. Closer national and local monitoring of enhanced and real time suicide and self-harm data – to identify emerging trends and groups at risk for early preventative action

Key achievements

• Public Health Scotland / Police Scotland provide more timely data reporting to local areas

Action

2. Specific public suicide prevention campaigns, distinct from and in partnership with the umbrella ‘Clear Your Head’ mental health and wellbeing campaign – to encourage people at risk of suicide and in suicidal crisis to seek help without stigma and to encourage others to give it

Key achievements

• Part of campaigns for UtPS such as @_FCUnited

Action

3. Enhanced focus on specifically suicidal crisis intervention – to ensure that those in suicidal crisis can access timely help and support, and meet any increase in numbers

Key achievements

• Captured within work for Action 5 (see above)

Action

4. Restricting access to means of suicide – to reduce the availability to those in crisis of the most commonly used means of suicide

Key achievements

• AAG undertaking Access to means Delphi Study

Action

5. A longer-term – potentially 10 year – suicide prevention strategy for Scotland should build on the current Suicide Prevention Action Plan and the learning from multi-agency pandemic mental health responses. Scotland’s long term suicide prevention strategy should be supported by an agreed cross-government (national and local) programme of work and an outcomes-based evaluation framework, with continuing investment.

Key achievements

• Resulted in this Strategy and Action Plan