suicide prevention

Over the last six years suicide and suicidal behaviour have become increasingly recognised as important public health policy and practice issues in Scotland. In 2001, the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being (National Programme) was established as part of the Scottish Executive’s health improvement and social justice policy agenda. A key work strand within the National Programme was suicide prevention and in December 2002, Choose Life, the National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland (http://www.chooselife.net/) was published.

Choose Life represents an opportunity to develop innovative approaches to reducing the suicide rate in Scotland. Enhanced understanding of risk and protective factors for suicide will enable the development of more effective and well targeted preventative interventions. SDC have built significant expertise and experience in researching and evaluating approaches to suicide prevention.

Influencing Scotland's suicide prevention strategy

SDC were central partners in the development of the Choose Life, Scotland's suicide prevention strategy. In addition to leading the two National Seminars to develop the content and structure of the strategy, SDC undertook a range of research activiites for the Scottish Executive to inform that work including:

• A study of current Scottish NHS and Local Authority approaches to suicide prevention
• A series of discussions with groups and services directly affected by suicide and self harm issues and with the media
• The collection of material on practice examples to illustrate the range of activity that was already taking place to address risk of suicide.

The final reports of the above work can be accessed here.

Contributing to the Scottish evidence base

Following the launch of Choose Life in 2003 SDC have continued to play an active role in developing the evidence base for suicide prevention activities in Scotland. Projects where SDC has had a key role include:

• Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour: Establishing the Territories for a Series of Research Reviews (2004)
  
• National Evaluation of Choose Life (phase one) (2006)
  
• Risk and protective factors for suicide and suicidal behaviour: a literature review (ongoing)

Self harm

Self harming behaviour is also a significant area of work for SDC, recognising that those who self harm are a key suicide risk group. SDC has built a portfolio of work on research, evaluation and development projects relating to self harming behaviour. This includes the following initiatives:

• Building the Strengths Within Project
  
• Written on the Body: A Review of Literature on Self Cutting (2005)
  
• Young People and Self-Harm in Perth & Kinross (2005) (contact Joanne McLean for information)
  
• Evaluations of Edinburgh Self Harm Project and Penumbra Young Peoples Project, Fife (both ongoing)

Contact details

Joanne McLean
joanne@sdcmh.org.uk

0131 555 5959