Suicide Prevention Scotland

By Suicide Prevention Scotland

We know that talking about suicide is the best way to prevent it. On our Suicide Prevention Scotland podcast channels you’ll find different series that explore a range of themes that underpin our work... more

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FAQs about Suicide Prevention Scotland:

How many episodes does Suicide Prevention Scotland have?

The podcast currently has 12 episodes available.

Suicide Prevention Scotland episodes:

May 15, 2025 Creating Hope - Bereavement
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this third episode, we explore bereavement by suicide and reflect on ways that we can provide compassionate and person centred support to people bereaved and affected by suicide.
Our host, Susie Heywood (Suicide Prevention Implementation Support Lead, Public Health Scotland) is joined by Jonathan Ellenor (member of the Suicide Prevention Scotland Lived and Living Experience Panel), Trish Hafford Letchfield (Professor of Social Work at the University of Strathclyde), Lara Van de Peer (Service Manager for the Scottish Government funded Suicide Bereavement Support Service) and Nicola Reed (Director of Client Services at Cruse Scotland).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
COSLA
Cruse Scotland
Suicide Bereavement Support Service: Final Evaluation Report
Penumbra
Navigating bereavement by suicide in later life: a qualitative analysis of health and social care professional perspectives - University of Strathclyde

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.

Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
...more
54min
May 15, 2025 Creating Hope - Young people (Part 02)
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this fourth episode, we explore a whole school approach to suicide prevention, including the eight principles that school communities can take to support the well-being needs of their children and young people.
In Part 02, our guests discuss their experiences of working with children and young people.
Our hosts Jenny Ferguson (Delivery Lead for Children and Young People, Suicide Prevention Scotland) and Jess Carlyle (Suicide Prevention Scotland Youth Advisory Group member) are joined by Steven Sweeney (Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Coordinator, Perth and Kinross Council) Fiona Hewitt (Development Officer - Health and Wellbeing, Renfrewshire Council) & Eilidh James (Quality Improvement Officer, North Ayrshire Council).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA
Supporting documents - Mental health and wellbeing: whole school approach: framework - gov.scot
Safeguarding: Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention | Resources | Education Scotland
The Cycle of Wellbeing | Resources | Education Scotland

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are a young person or you are supporting a young person you can receive support from Papyrus on 0800 068 4141 (text 07860 039 967), Childline on 0800 1111 or Shout by texting “SHOUT” to 85258.

Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
...more
26min
May 15, 2025 Creating Hope - Young people (Part 01)
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this fourth episode, we explore a whole school approach to suicide prevention, including the eight principles that school communities can take to support the well-being needs of their children and young people.
In Part 01, each of our guests tell us about their own individual practice stories.
Our hosts Jenny Ferguson (Delivery Lead for Children and Young People, Suicide Prevention Scotland) and Jess Carlyle (Suicide Prevention Scotland Youth Advisory Group member) are joined by Steven Sweeney (Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Coordinator, Perth and Kinross Council) Fiona Hewitt (Development Officer - Health and Wellbeing, Renfrewshire Council) & Eilidh James (Quality Improvement Officer, North Ayrshire Council).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA
Supporting documents - Mental health and wellbeing: whole school approach: framework - gov.scot
Safeguarding: Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention | Resources | Education Scotland
The Cycle of Wellbeing | Resources | Education Scotland

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are a young person or you are supporting a young person you can receive support from Papyrus on 0800 068 4141 (text 07860 039 967), Childline on 0800 1111 or Shout by texting “SHOUT” to 85258.

Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
...more
34min
May 15, 2025 Creating Hope - Lived & living experience
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this first episode, we explore working with those who have lived and living experience of suicide.
Our host, Susie Heywood (Suicide Prevention Implementation Support Lead, Public Health Scotland) is joined by Keir McKechnie (Lived and Living Experience Panel Coordinator with SAMH), Catriona McDougall (Project Coordinator with Scottish Recovery Network) and Laura Junor (Member of the Suicide Prevention Scotland Lived and Living Experience Panel).

Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.

Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
...more
38min
May 15, 2025 Creating Hope - Data & intelligence
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this second episode, we explore data and intelligence – what is, and how does it inform our suicide prevention work.
Our host, Rob Kelly (suicide Prevention Implementation Support Lead, Public Health Scotland) is joined by Mary-Grace Burinski (Senior Health Promotion Officer, Fife Health & Social Care Partnership), Andrew Murray (Principal Information Analyst, Public Health Scotland) and Shirley Windsor (Organisational Lead, Public Health Scotland).

Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
COSLA
NRS Probable Suicides 2023
ScotSID

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.

Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
...more
43min
February 22, 2025Bringing it all together - Season 02, Episode 04
Welcome to season 02 of Time Space Compassion, a podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each show we’re exploring three important words that are a key part of the Scottish Government’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.
In this episode we discuss:
Community based crisis care
Compassionate MH emergency care
Implementing trauma informed practice
Collaborative and community based working
No wrong door
Gender based violence
Host Lawrence Broadie is joined by Wendy Given from Anchor House Perth, Krish Veramootoo, a Scottish Ambulance Service mental health paramedic, and Angie Pinkerton, Trauma lead for South Ayrshire.
Also with us is Myra Ross from NHS Highland who delivers a couple of powerful poems she's written, too.
Editor: Emily George
Key links for this series:
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Resilience Learning Partnership
SAMH - The Changing Room
Penumbra
Scottish Recovery Network
Glasgow Complex Needs Project
Lighthouse Perth
COSLA
Anchor House Perth
Scottish Ambulance Service
SAMH(SAMs Café)
SAMs Café
Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are ever in immediate danger or have the means to cause yourself harm you should dial 999 and request an ambulance.
...more
39min
February 22, 2025Primary care - Season 02, Episode 03
Welcome to season 02 of Time Space Compassion, a podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each show we’re exploring three important words that are a key part of the Scottish Government’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.
In this episode we discuss:
Time Space Compassion and suicide prevention in primary care
Pre and post registration training for GPs and primary care workforce
The role of AHPs in suicide prevention
Giving mental health emergency equal status with physical health emergency
The MH standards
Host Lawrence Broadie is joined by Catherine Totten, previously an Allied Health Practioner advisor to the Scottish Government's Mental Health Directorate and now a Mental Health Lead for the Scottish Ambulance Service. Alongside is Jim Douglas, a GP working with NHS Highland who also leads primary care suicide prevention training.
In this episode the term "ED" or "Emergency Department" is used. This is term that people working in NHS Scotland use to refer to "Accident & Emergency" or "A and E" as it is often described.
Editor: Emily George
Key links for this series:
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Resilience Learning Partnership
SAMH - The Changing Room
Penumbra
Scottish Recovery Network
Glasgow Complex Needs Project
Lighthouse Perth
COSLA
Anchor House Perth
Scottish Ambulance Service
SAMH(SAMs Café)
SAMs Café

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are ever in immediate danger or have the means to cause yourself harm you should dial 999 and request an ambulance.
...more
35min
February 22, 2025Unscheduled care - Season 02, Episode 02
Welcome to season 02 of Time Space Compassion, a podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each show we’re exploring three important words that are a key part of the Scottish Government’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.
In this episode we discuss:
Peer support for suicide prevention
Suicide Prevention in A&E / acute settings
The role of A&E clinicians
Fife Victoria Hospital
Innovation & reform
Host Lawrence Broadie is joined by Chelsea Graham, a Peer Practitioner from the SAMH SAMs Café, Jane Grassie, Emergency Consultant for Fife’s Victoria Hospital and Linda Hunter, who leads on Time Space Compassion for Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In this episode the term "ED" or "Emergency Department" is used. This is term that people working in NHS Scotland use to refer to "Accident & Emergency" or "A and E" as it is often described.
Editor: Emily George
Key links for this series:
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Resilience Learning Partnership
SAMH - The Changing Room
Penumbra
Scottish Recovery Network
Glasgow Complex Needs Project
Lighthouse Perth
COSLA
Anchor House Perth
Scottish Ambulance Service
SAMH(SAMs Café)
SAMs Café

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are ever in immediate danger or have the means to cause yourself harm you should dial 999 and request an ambulance.
...more
35min
February 22, 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day in Fife, Special edition - Season 02, Episode 01
Welcome to season 02 of Time Space Compassion, a podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September 2024) we visited Dunfermline Athletic FC's East End Park to meet four people working in suicide prevention in Fife.
Lawrence Broadie is joined by Maggie Wright, Co-founder and CEO at Families in Trauma, Kenny Armour, an area lead at ANDYSMANCLUB, Fife Council community education worker Kirsty McElhinney, and Dunfermline Athletic's mental health ambassador Eddie Martin.
Producer: Jake Gray | Editor: Emily George
Key links for this series:
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are ever in immediate danger or have the means to cause yourself harm you should dial 999 and request an ambulance.
...more
34min
August 21, 2023 Lived experience & peer support - Season 01, Episode 03
Welcome to Time Space Compassion, a podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring three important words that are a key part of the Scottish Government’s new suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.
In episode three we discuss the important role that lived experience and peer support plays in the co-production suicide prevention workstreams.
Lawrence Broadie is joined by Louise Christie, Director at Scottish Recovery Network, Jane Cumming from Penumbra, SAMH’s Robert Nesbitt, Rebecca Hoffman from LGBT Health and Wellbeing, Dr Kerry Johanna Smith from the Glasgow Complex Needs Project and Sharon Thomas, Operations Manager, The Lighthouse Perth.

Key links for this series:
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Resilience Learning Partnership
SAMH - The Changing Room
Penumbra
Scottish Recovery Network
Glasgow Complex Needs Project
Lighthouse Perth
COSLA

Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
...more
17min

FAQs about Suicide Prevention Scotland:

How many episodes does Suicide Prevention Scotland have?

The podcast currently has 12 episodes available.