In our thoughts every day

Earlier today National Records of Scotland released data on the number of people who died by suicide in 2023. Our National Delivery Lead Haylis Smith reflects on some of the questions she asks herself on a day like this. You can read about our analysis and response, here.

If you are having thoughts of suicide then please reach out for help speak to someone you trust and if that person doesn’t listen, try someone else and keep trying until you find someone to help, because you may not feel it right now, but you are important.

Reach out to one of these helplines (and keep trying if you can’t get through first time or if you’re put on hold, then hold on):

• Samaritans 116 123 or email Jo@samaritans.org or go online and use the online chat at www.samaritans.org
• Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
• NHS 24 mental health hub on 111

You can also watch the messages from people who have lived experience of suicide and found a way to stay alive Surviving Suicidal Thoughts | NHS inform

Every year around August, the National Records for Scotland release the data on the number of people who died by suicide.

The lead up to this quite rightly makes those of us who work in suicide prevention ask ourselves some questions, what difference will we see from last year?

If fewer people have died, then what does that mean? Is the work we are doing making a difference? Is it something else?

If more people have taken their own life, then the questions asked are, what more could we be doing? Are we focussing our efforts in the right ways, doing the right things? Are we seeing the beginning of a trend? What do we need to be doing differently?

But what does it all really mean?

For me, it means that the people who died by suicide saw no other way to deal with the pain and despair they were in, saw no other way than death to deal with the things that they felt were unbearable, didn’t get or find the type of support they needed to help them stay alive.

It means that the family and friends of the people who died by suicide had their lives changed forever. In the blink of an eye they went from their normal lives, to a life full of questions, of whys, what ifs and if onlys.

While I’m proud of the work Suicide Prevention Scotland has done over the last year, the fact that 792 people died by suicide is a stark reminder we still have so much more to do — we are determined to keep working together do it.

We don’t just think about the number of people who die by suicide on this day in August, they are in our thoughts every day — they help drive us to do this work — to try to help prevent future deaths.

Every death by suicide is one too many and we need to continue to build our understanding of what we need to do and how we need to do it by listening to the experts, those who study and research suicide and people who have lived and living experience.

We’ll use that understanding to help us develop and deliver more action to prevent suicide.

Creating Hope Together is a ten year strategy.

We know from previous experience that over that length of time we can make a difference, we can reduce deaths by suicide.

We also know that it takes more than having a strategy. It takes all of us, doing what we can to make that difference a reality in our communities.

So, if you are reading this, I’d encourage you to play your part, to do what you can to help prevent suicide, here are some options:

• Sign up to the social movement at United to Prevent Suicide
• Follow @suicideprevscot on Twitter (or X) for the latest information about what is happening across Scotland
• Read about what people experiencing suicidal crisis need at Time Space Compassion — supporting people experiencing suicidal crisis: introductory guide — gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Sign up to TURAS (it’s free to anyone) and access the learning resources which will give you knowledge to better understand suicide such as the Informed level resources or look for training in your local area
• Take the time to listen to your friends, family, neighbours, strangers…ask them how they really are, and if you’re worried about them ask if they have thoughts of suicide and listen to what they have to say. This simple act can save a life

And a reminder, if you are having thoughts of suicide then please reach out for help, speak to someone you trust or call one of these helplines:

• Samaritans 116 123 or email Jo@samaritans.org or go online and use the online chat at www.samaritans.org
• Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
• NHS 24 mental health hub on 111