Death by suicide is on the rise in Scotland
Four mental health organisations were brought together by Scottish Recovery Network to meet Maree Todd, minister for mental health and wellbeing, to discuss the role of peer support in suicide prevention.
The meeting followed the publication of the annual National Records of Scotland statistics on probable suicides which showed that there were 792 probable suicide deaths in 2023, an increase of 30 on the previous year.
Donna Paterson-Harvie Founder and CEO of Neil’s Hugs Foundation, Sam Magee, Lead Practitioner – Adult Services at Man On Inverclyde, Rab Douglas, Senior Peer Practitioner, Hope Point Dundee (Penumbra), and Nic Saunders, Founder and Co-organiser of Living Warriors Project (Edinburgh) shared with the minister the positive impact of using their lived experience to design and deliver peer support.
The visit provided a chance to advocate for the different types of peer support as well as recognising the innovation of the Third Sector in developing peer support approaches and roles that are crucial to suicide prevention in Scotland.
Louise Christie, director, Scottish Recovery Network said: “The people lost to suicide and their loved ones are in our thoughts always. We acknowledge the heartbreak, distress and grief experienced.
"Central to suicide prevention are the people affected; people experiencing or who have experienced suicidal feelings, those who have attempted suicide and all their family, friends and all others affected.
"Their experiences and perspectives are key to improving understanding and also enabling us to design and deliver the supports that can reach people in distress and crisis.
"Peer support groups and services provide a space where people can talk to someone who understands and can work with them to find a way through.”
Maree Todd said: “The National Records of Scotland statistics on probable suicides makes for distressing reading and my sincere condolences go out to all those who have been affected by the loss of a loved one by suicide. I am determined that together with COSLA and other partners we reduce the number of deaths by suicide and improve the nation’s mental health as a whole.
“It is such a privilege to hear from Peer Supporters - who are making ‘time, space, compassion’ real every day. They do powerful work. There’s nothing more hopeful when you’re in despair than finding folk who’ve walked in your shoes & are now in a different place."
