World Suicide Prevention Day 2021 to be observed by the Highland Community Planning Partnership with help available for those affected by the issue
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With death rates from suicide for both men and women higher than the national average in the Highlands a number of organisations in the region will be observing World Suicide Prevention Day 2021.
The awareness day is observed on September 10 every year and provides a platform to provide commitment, action and promote preventative measures with the aim to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts globally.
Suicide prevention is vital and the Highland Community Planning Partnership (HCPP) has launched the Prevent Suicide Highland App which is available on Android and iPhone and is also delivering Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme (SIPP) across the Highlands.
The app aims to help prevent suicide in the north of Scotland and the user can complete a prevent suicide safety plan with the support of a trained listener.
It also includes telephone connections for local and national suicide prevention helplines which offer support in situations where people feel distressed, suicidal or suspect someone may need support due to suicidal concerns.
HCPP Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme – the training is in recognition that everyone within our communities can have a role to play in preventing suicide, the SIPP programme of training is aimed at all to enable participants to recognise a person at risk of suicide, to ask about suicide, to display listening and questioning skills, be aware of the impact of attitudes on suicide, and to develop risk management skills to keep a person safe.
The partnership has a designated Suicide Prevention Group comprised of members of the partnership organisations.
Jim McCreath, Highland Council's health safety and wellbeing trainer, said: “As one of the senior SIPP trainers for the partnership, removing the stigma around suicide by talking about it can save lives.
"Delivering SIPP training I experience the difference it makes in people’s ability to recognise someone in distress and at risk of suicide, and in their confidence in asking someone they are worried about if they are having suicidal thoughts.
"I’d encourage people to sign-up for the SIPP training to allow more people to be skilled across Highland in recognising the signs that someone is at risk and knowing where to direct that person to the professional support that is available.”
Carolyn Hunter-Rowe, NHS Highlands public health intelligence manager and senior epidemiologist, said: “New official figures released by the National Records of Scotland that 44 people died by probable suicide in the Highland council area in 2020, compared to 64 people in 2018 and 51 in 2017.
"Although this year’s data shows a small decrease in deaths by probable suicide, the number of deaths is above the previous five-year average and continues a recent upward trend.
"Worryingly, death rates from suicide for both men and women are higher in Highland than the national average. This emphasises that suicide prevention remains a vital public health priority.”
Sergeant Daniel Jack, from Police Scotland's Highland and Islands Division's Suicide Bereavement Support Service, said: “The Suicide Bereavement Support Service recently launched by Police Scotland in the Highland area is a two year pilot service funded by the Scottish Government which offers support to those bereaved or affected by suicide.
"The service aims to provide early advice and assistance to bereaved families, practical support, such as assistance with funeral arrangements, financial issues, Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service process, an assessment of need, safety planning and signposting to local support organisations.
"Individuals would be contacted within 24 hours of referral with a follow up face to face meeting being offered within the first seven days. The service is being provided by support from Mind Scotland and Penumbra."
Yvonne Campbell, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's community firefighter in Inverness, said: “Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is fully supportive of the suicide prevention work being carried out throughout Highland and we are committed to prioritising the mental health of our personnel.
"In addition to the local support available, Lifelines Scotland is a national project to support the health and wellbeing of the emergency responder community in Scotland. Whatever your role, whether you’re employed or retired, family member or friend, you can visit the Lifelines website for lots of tips on how to boost your resilience, cope with stress, support each other and where to turn if you need extra help.”
Wilma Kelt, High Life Highland's adult and youth services officer, said: “Recently I delivered SIPP training within the Caithness Pathfinder Project, the participants came from a mix of backgrounds – retired, young parents and volunteers in local groups, all of them had experience of suicide.
"They got involved as they wanted to help others through difficult times. The wealth of lived experience and insight into a local public (and national) issue offered insightful knowledge that can be passed on to others receiving SIPP training across Highland.”
Every 40 seconds someone takes their life; that’s almost 800,000 people a year around the world, with more than 75 per cent of suicides occurring in low-and-middle-income countries. Suicide is a global concern and a serious public health issue in every country.
Suicides are preventable and Highland Community Planning Partnership will continue to work collaboratively with communities across Highland.
• If you, or someone you know needs support in relation to suicide, you can download the Prevent Suicide Highland App or call Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.
