National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG): fourth annual report

Supporting Delivery of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2018-2022

Significant Milestones

2018

August

• Launch of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan - Every Life Matters (SPAP).

September

• National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) established. Action 1
• NSPLG Academic Advisory Group (AAG) established. Action 9

December

• Initial NSPLG Delivery Plan published. Action 1

2019

May

• Partner sought to support recruitment and work of NSPLG Lived Experience Panel (LEP). Action 9
• First package of Ask, Tell, Save a Life learning resources launched by NHS Health Scotland (now Public Health Scotland (PHS)) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES), in partnership with NSPLG. Action 2

June

• SAMH appointed to support recruitment and work of LEP. Action 9
• AAG conducts rapid review of the role of digital technology in the prevention or reduction of suicidal ideation. Actions 6 & 9

July

• Updated NSPLG Delivery Plan published. Action 1
• SPAP Programme Manager appointed.

September

• NSPLG Lived Experience Panel (LEP) launched on World Suicide Prevention Day 2019. Action 9
• First NSPLG Annual Report published and recommendations made to Scottish Government and COSLA accepted. Action 1
• SPAP Delivery Lead appointments approved. Action 1

2020

March

• COVID-19 pandemic lockdown adversely impacts SPAP delivery plans.
• March Rapid synthesis of current evidence on groups at risk of suicide. Actions 7 & 9

April

• Creation of Public Health Scotland (PHS).
• Engagement on suicide prevention public awareness campaign commences, involving 400 stakeholders and 2,000 members of the public. Action 3

May

• The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) commences study on models of suicide bereavement interventions and best practice, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 4 & 9

June

• NSPLG Covid-19 Statement and recommendations published. Action 1
• PHS and NES launch suicide prevention online learning module for NHS staff working with adults, in partnership with NSPLG. Action 2

July

• AAG supports stakeholder consultation on digital technology to support suicide prevention. Actions 6 & 9
• AAG supports stakeholder consultation on suicidal crisis support. Actions 5 & 9
• Public consultation on suicidal crisis support and digital support for suicide prevention gains over 200 responses. Actions 5 & 6

August

• NSPLG Covid-19 Statement recommendations accepted by Scottish Government and COSLA, including development of joint, long-term, cross-policy, outcomes-focussed suicide prevention strategy to follow SPAP. Action 1
• PHS and NES launch Ask, Tell, Respond suicide prevention animations focussed on children and young people, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 2 & 8

September

• Second NSPLG Annual Report published and recommendations made to Scottish Government and COSLA accepted. Action 1
• Launch of United to Prevent Suicide social movement. Action 3
• PHS and NES launch learning resources addressing mental health improvement and the prevention of self-harm and suicide by children and young people, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 2 & 8
• PHS and NES launch facilitation package to support Ask, Tell, Respond suicide prevention resources for adults, in partnership with NSPLG. Action 2

October

• Partners sought to implement Suicide Bereavement Support Pilot in two NHS areas. Action 4
• Launch of first national United to Prevent Suicide public awareness campaign. Action 3

November

• LEP input to Police Scotland Negotiator Training commences. Action 2
• PHS and NES launch Turas suicide prevention learning resources on

December

• PHS and NES launch Turas suicide prevention learning resources on Supporting People at Risk of Self-Harm in partnership with NSPLG. Action 2

2021

January

• AAG undertakes Delphi study on potentially effective interventions to reduce access to means of suicide. Action 9
• PHS and NES launch Turas suicide prevention learning resources on Supporting People at Risk of Suicide in partnership with NSPLG. Action 2

February

• AAG reports on review of the first two years of SPAP. Action 9

April

• Local suicide prevention action planning guidance published, in partnership with COSLA. Actions 1 & 9

June

• Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care announces extension of SPAP for additional year to Sept 2022, when new joint Scottish Government and COSLA suicide prevention strategy to be published.
• LEP cited by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an internationally significant case study in meaningful participation of people with lived experience in suicide prevention work. Action 9

July

• AAG completes literature review on suicidal behaviour in ethnic minority communities. Action 7 & 9
• NSPLG proposal to establish a Youth Advisory Group (YAG) approved. Action 8 & 9

August

• Suicide Bereavement Support Pilot service launched in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and NHS Highland, in partnership with Penumbra Mental Health and Support in Mind Scotland. Action 4
• NSPLG proposal to develop joint digital suicide prevention resources in collaboration with NHS 24/NHS Inform approved. Action 6
• FC United to Prevent Suicide suicide prevention campaign launched. Action 3

September

• Third NSPLG Annual Report published. Action 1
• PHS and NES launch Turas suicide prevention learning resources to support those working with children and young people, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 2 & 8
• PHS and NES launch facilitation package to support Ask, Tell, Respond suicide prevention resources for children and young people, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 2 & 8

October

• Recommendations made on implementing a Time, Space, Compassion approach to supporting people in suicidal crisis. Action 5
• Partners sought to recruit and support NSPLG Youth Advisory Group (YAG). Actions 8 & 9

November

• PHS and NES commence suicide prevention practitioner Masterclasses, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 2 & 9
• First exploratory case review of suicide death in community setting completed in partnership with Grampian stakeholders. Action 10

December

• NSPLG Children and Young People suicide prevention participation network established. Actions 8 & 9
• New LEP recruitment round completed, in partnership with SAMH. Action 9

2022

January

• Suicidal Crisis Support Action Group formed to support implementation of Time, Space, Compassion approach. Action 5
• Time, Space, Compassion national implementation leads appointed. Action 5
• NHS 24 filming of LEP member and other video blogs for Surviving Suicidal Thoughts digital resources commences, in partnership with NSPLG. Actions 6 & 9

February

• First meeting of Suicidal Crisis Support Action Working Group supporting implementation of Time, Space, Compassion approach. Action 5

March

• Report into experiences of suicide and suicide prevention by adversely racialised people published. Actions 7 & 9
• Further exploratory case reviews of suicide death in community setting completed in partnership with local stakeholders. Action 10

April

• AAG completes rapid review of evidence of risk and protective factors for suicide in Scotland. Actions 7 & 9
• Evaluation of local suicide prevention planning and action across Scotland completed. Actions 1 & 9
• User research testing of NHS 24/NHS Inform Surviving Suicidal Thoughts website. Action 6
• YAG support partners Children in Scotland and University of Stirling appointed and recruitment commenced. Actions 8 & 9
• Evaluation of Suicide Bereavement Support Pilot service takes place. Actions 4 & 9

May

• Online seminar event on bereavement by suicide hosted by PHS and COSLA. Action 4

June

• Ask, Tell, Respond suicide prevention resources translated into Polish, Urdu and BSL. Action 2
• NHS 24/NHS Inform Surviving Suicidal Thoughts website launched. Action 6
• Digital marketing campaign to support launch of NHS 24/NHS Inform Surviving Suicidal Thoughts website via GoogleAds, Facebook, Nano and Spotify. Action 6
• Launch of Samaritans Scotland suicide prevention initiative aimed at men in rural communities in West Highland and Skye. Action 7

July

• Launch of Better Tomorrow, United to Prevent Suicide campaign co-designed with and for children and young people. Actions 3 & 8

August

• NSPLG Network Event held for NSPLG, LEP, AAG, DLs and local suicide prevention leads. Action 1

September

• Initial prototype of Time, Space, Compassion framework developed. Action 5
• AAG conduct evaluation of Surviving Suicidal Thoughts initiative. Actions 6 & 9
• NSPLG LEP Celebration and Learning Event held for NSPLG Network and partner organisations. Actions 1 & 9
• Launch of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022-2032 - Creating Hope Together.