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

Introduction

• This is our third annual report, summarising progress over the period September 2020 to August 2021 and looking forward to the final year of delivery of Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan Every Life Matters.

• The last year has proved challenging for everyone continuing to face the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and evidence shows that the pandemic has impacted the mental health of some more adversely than others. We were pleased to see that the Scottish Government was proactive in publishing its Transition and Recovery Plan for Mental Health last October. We welcome its commitments on suicide prevention alongside additional funding through the Recovery and Renewal Fund. We are working alongside the Scottish Government, supporting delivery of those commitments.

• In August 2021, National Records of Scotland (NRS) published the suicide statistics for 2020. While we welcome the fact that fewer people died by suicide in 2020 than in 2019, each of the 805 lives lost is a tragedy and shows us that there is still much work to do to reduce suicide deaths in Scotland. We know that our collaborative approach to supporting delivery of the actions in Every Life Matters is now more essential than ever. We will therefore continue to reach across boundaries and do all we can to ensure that the impacts of the pandemic on people, families and diverse communities are mitigated.

• In June, the new Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care announced to the Scottish Parliament that Every Life Matters would be extended for a further year, up to the point of publication of the new suicide prevention strategy in September 2022. We welcome this recognition of the disruption caused by the pandemic and will use this year to redouble our support for delivery of Every Life Matters, our COVID-19 Statement recommendations, and the development of, and transition to, the new strategy.