SAMH Comment: Suicide Prevention

30th April 2018

SAMH welcomes the opportunity to respond to the draft Suicide Prevention Action Plan consultation. 

An average of two people die by suicide every day in Scotland, that’s 728 deaths in the last year.

Although five year rolling averages show a decrease, in the last year for the first time in six years the number of people dying by suicide has risen. We need urgent action to prevent any further increases in deaths. 

We broadly welcome the proposed four actions in the draft Suicide Prevention Action Plan; however we want to see a stronger, more specific and clearly resourced plan to take Scotland forward.   

As part of the new plan, SAMH is calling on the Scottish Government to:

• Devise a new national target for driving down deaths by suicide to replace the previous target of reducing deaths by 20% between 2002 and 2013;
• Create an all-age plan which combines a universal approach with targeted actions towards people and areas who have the greatest need;
• Ensure the new Suicide Prevention Confederation will assess local partnerships’ workplans and award funds to them directly;
• Retain ASIST training;
• Develop proposals to address the stigma associated with suicide;
• Draw on good practice from other parts of the UK, which have well-developed suicide prevention plans in place;
• Introduce a new set of post suicide family support standards to help families deal with the emotional and financial effect of losing someone to suicide.

SAMH Chief Executive, Billy Watson said:

“At SAMH we talk safely about suicide every day, working continuously to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Scotland.

“When someone dies by suicide, it has an impact like no other.   

“We have crafted a consultation response that is helpful and hopeful; helpful in proposing constructive improvements to the plan, and hopeful in our sincere belief that many deaths by suicide can be prevented.

“The action plan needs transparent funding, clear leadership, evidence-based practice and a new national target for driving down suicide deaths with strong local action plans to ensure suicide deaths do not rise again.” 

Read SAMH's full response here. 

Samaritans is a 24-hour helpline offering emotional support for anyone feeling down, distressed or struggling to cope. Call them on 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org