Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention 

The number of probable deaths by suicide increased by 4% in Scotland last year, according to annual figures. 

What do the words Suicide prevention mean to you? To me its simple they mean – save lives.  

Scotland has a Suicide Prevention Strategy “Creating Hope Together”. The strategy is simple they want people to work together to prevent suicide, they want people to know where to get help when they need it, they want people to know how to help someone who feels suicidal, they want people to get support when they have been affected by suicide.  The strategy in my opinion has all we need to work on prevention they key word for me is “together”. To prevent more deaths, we need to work holistically as a community on spreading awareness and education on prevention.  

Mental health has always been linked to a stigma, we need to work through the stigma and spread awareness. CPR and first aid are openly taught to all generations in all types of settings to save lives, suicide prevention will also save lives, let’s work together and save more lives.  

There were 792 probable suicide deaths in 2023, an increase of 30 on the previous year, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland. 

The average age of death for suicides has increased overall, from 41.9 in the year 2000 to 46.6 in 2023. 

 

So where can you go if you need help: 

  • If you need urgent help call 111 

  • If you need immediate help call 999 or go to your nearest A&E 

Looking for ways to cope with your thoughts go to:  

How to cope with suicidal thoughts (rethink.org) 

 

What are the warning signs to look for if your concerned about someone?  

Warning signs of suicide 

A person may be at imminent risk if they are feeling suicidal and they: 

  • have made a plan about how they will kill themselves 

  • have access to a method to kill themselves 

  • are impulsive, or act recklessly 

  • have previously attempted suicide 

  • have close contact with someone who had attempted or died by suicide 

  • no longer fear death 

  • are visualising dying or after their death 

  • talk about hurting or killing themselves 

  • talk about feeling trapped, such as saying they can’t see any way out of their current situation 

  • talk or write about death, dying or suicide 

  • can tolerate a high level of pain 

  • have feelings of hopelessness 

  • have episodes of sudden rage and anger have sudden mood swings 

  • lose interest in most things 

  • engage in risky activities 

  • have recently started, or increased, their frequency of self-harm – including misusing drugs or alcohol 

  • have become increasingly withdrawn from friends and family 

  • appear anxious and agitated 

  • are unable to sleep or sleep much more than usual 

  • talk and act in a way that suggests their life has no sense of purpose 

  • put their affairs in order, such as giving away possessions or making a will 

 

What to do if you have concerns? Go to: 

How_to_ask_Online_version_new_branding.pdf (samh.org.uk) 

Lisa Todd, CEO