Suicide Prevention Week 2010

1 in 200 Scots are trained to help people at risk of suicide

At the start of Suicide Prevention Week (6-12 September), Scotland's suicide prevention programme Choose Life can reveal that almost 25,000 people from the voluntary, social work and education sectors, mental health agencies and the NHS have been trained to be alert to early signs of suicide and understand appropriate ways to help those with suicidal thoughts since training began in 2004. A network of over 500 suicide prevention trainers is in place to deliver training in communities across Scotland.

 

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, says:

“Suicide prevention training is a key priority for the Scottish Government. It is an important part of our wider efforts to reduce the rate of suicide in Scotland – which includes our target for health boards to train half their key frontline staff in suicide prevention awareness techniques by the end of this year.
 
"We know that in many cases suicide can be prevented if people get the right help and support to see a way out of their situation. The more people who feel confident and willing to explore possible signs of suicide risk, and to provide support and help, the more lives can ultimately be saved."

Choose Life offers a choice of training courses in Scotland, ranging from short exploration and awareness-raising sessions to practical intervention skills workshops. These include: safeTALK, which enables participants to recognise when someone may be feeling suicidal and to connect that person to someone who can help further; STORM, which is suicide risk management training for frontline workers in health, social and criminal justice services; and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a worldwide ‘suicide first aid’ course which enables participants to directly intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

Since the launch of the Choose Life in 2002 Scotland’s suicide rate has decreased by 11%.