Suicide Prevention Across the Western Isles

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One of the hallmarks of the Outer Hebrides approach has been to work on community level prevention approaches alongside statutory service developments. In order to reduce suicide rates, population-based strategies aimed at actively reducing risks among the whole population are considered to have greater impact than clinical strategies targeting those thought to be at high risk of suicide. Although there are a number of predictive factors, such as self-harm, these are common to many people. Since suicide results from a complex interplay of biological, socio-cultural, psychological, and behavioural factors, working to prevent it at a population level is more effective.

Our Local Responses to Suicide

Training

Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan ‘Every Life Matters’ sets out specific actions to reduce suicide in Scotland. Additionally, Scotland’s Mental Health Strategy includes several commitments to improve mental health in areas related to this framework. Alongside this, Scotland’s Public Health Priorities sets out the priority ‘A Scotland where we all have good mental wellbeing’. The Mental Health Strategy and Suicide Prevention Action Plan highlight the importance of developing knowledge and skills in mental health and suicide prevention across all public services and beyond.

By training a proportion of the population, more skilled and confident helpers are available to explore thoughts of suicide and intervene. The training programme offers suicide prevention training covering awareness and exploration to suicide first aid skills. Courses are organised and delivered at a local level by qualified trainers. Courses range from a 1 hour Suicidetalk, and a 3 hour Safetalk training to the full two-day ASIST training.

Over the past 18 months, we have locally had a strong drive around training to continue to build capacity in the community to be able to respond to those who might be at risk of suicide. We have delivered 23 Suicide Talk 15 Safetalk, and 5 ASIST courses with a range of attendance across all sector agencies, and a total of 510 people trained in the varying skill levels.

We also delivered specific sessions to parents at the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway and lecturing staff at the University of the Highlands & Islands (Lews Castle College campus). In addition, all S4-S6 pupils in the Nicolson Institute and Sir E Scott School were offered participation in SuicideTalk training with eight sessions being delivered and 170 pupils trained.

Western Isles Multi Agency Suicide Prevention Advisory Group

This suicide prevention advisory group was formed at the end of 2018 and looks to bring together key strategic stakeholders across the Outer Hebrides to oversee the delivery of a suicide prevention strategy. In delivering this function, the key tasks of the group are to:

  • implement the national strategy through the development of an island-wide suicide prevention action plan and drive the delivery of suicide prevention initiatives at a local level.
  • oversee delivery of the content of the suicide prevention action plan ensuring that the objectives of the plan correspond with existing local and national strategies and policies and meet the need of our communities.
  • ensure that ‘high risk’ groups are identified and receive special focus in all activities.
  • provide guidance on appropriate commissioning of services and interventions for people in relation to suicide prevention across the Outer Hebrides that will deliver the action plan and identify resources in a needs led process.
  • use local established needs assessments, audits, procedures and support processes (including Joint Strategic Needs Assessments) to drive forward the agenda.
  • make recommendations on the development of suicide prevention services and advise on the prioritisation of such developments to appropriate strategic partnerships.
  • draw on the experience and expertise of the suicide prevention advisory group and other national and regional policy streams to inform and influence the suicide prevention agenda across the Outer Hebrides.
  • support the suicide audit process by acting on findings from local suicide audits, sharing and benchmark findings

Awareness Raising Campaigns

NHS Western Isles annually hosts Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Month, held 10th September to 10th October, starting with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September which serves as an opportunity to acknowledge that suicide is preventable. And that it’s everyone’s business.

Last year a ‘Leave the light on’ service was held on 28th September at 7pm in the High Church in Stornoway. The service provided an opportunity to remember a lost loved one and to support those who have been bereaved through any loss, not just by suicide.

As part of this awareness raising work, Stornoway Rugby Club and Stornoway Women’s Rugby joined forces with NHS Western Isles to tackle the stigma associated with suicide and raise awareness of local and national support groups. Both clubs fundraised for local mental health charities at their September fixtures and this work will continue in partnership over the coming year.

Going Forward

There are a number of areas currently identified for development including:

  • research to look at the influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences on suicidal behaviour and implementation of suicide safety planning.
  • work to support people presenting in distress.
  • work to establish systems for suicide death audits that fits the local context; to learn lessons from individual suicide deaths which may help to prevent future deaths and improve clinical practice and to support the ongoing development of suicide prevention strategies.