Committee
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 28 May 2024
28 May 2024 · S6 · Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Item of business
Suicide Prevention
As you might imagine, as I represent Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, that issue is very close to my heart. Work is being done in collaboration with Samaritans Scotland. I recently visited its project at its base in Fort William. The project is assessing the risk of suicide and is doing suicide prevention work among lone rural workers, recognising that they are a particular risk. People can be very isolated working in the Highlands and, often, because of the work that they do, they have access and means. It is an important piece of work. As you might expect, I was hugely impressed by the work that Samaritans Scotland is doing. It is a national organisation with a real level of respect among the community and the nation, but here it was, in a local community, working very carefully and sensitively with some of the groups that were already operating in the area. A couple of local charities are very prominent in the area. They have sprung up—I am sure that it is the same in every part of the country—because of tragic events and in memory of people who have been lost by suicide. I was impressed by the sensitive way in which this national organisation had come into the local community and was working very carefully, thoughtfully and impactfully along with the rest of the community. I think that that work reports fully next year. I am keen to see the outcome of that, and it will be of interest to every other rural area in Scotland. We have specific work going on in rural Scotland. As I said, during my recent visit, I was very impressed by the way in which Samaritans Scotland is conducting that project. I am keen to get on the record that the project recognises the importance of employers and work-based interventions. We look to learn from suicide and there is evidence that it is often the case that people have sought help from primary care or they have sought non-specialist medical help. Sometimes, people have sought specialist help. However, employers are a very common theme across the board, and ensuring that employers are equipped to have sensitive conversations, recognising the role that they play in the community and the role that a supportive employment environment can have in preventing suicide, is a new thing. We are pleased to be working alongside a group of employers in the delivery of our mental health and wellbeing strategy but in the suicide prevention work in particular.
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
Our next agenda item is an evidence session with the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on suicide prevention in Scotland. ...
The Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport (Maree Todd)
SNP
I begin by welcoming the committee’s inquiry. Tragically, suicide continues to impact all parts of society, so we all have a role to play in preventing suici...
The Convener
SNP
Thank you, minister. Councillor Kelly, I invite you to make your opening remarks.
Councillor Paul Kelly (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)
Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to give evidence to the committee. As the voice of local government in Scotland, COSLA has taken a strong po...
The Convener
SNP
I will ask the first question. During our evidence sessions, it has been noted that death by suicide increased over the course of the every life matters stra...
Maree Todd
SNP
I am happy to start, and I think that Morag Williamson will probably want to come in and contribute a little as well. A number of things are significantly d...
Morag Williamson (Scottish Government)
You are asking about the trends that we saw over the course of the every life matters strategy and what that meant for how we developed the creating hope tog...
The Convener
SNP
The focus on inequalities could be quite challenging in the circumstances that we are in. What challenges do you foresee being the hardest to overcome?
Maree Todd
SNP
It is clear that poverty increases suicide risk—the link between the two is clear—and it is very challenging to tackle poverty in this environment. We have h...
The Convener
SNP
I put the same question to Councillor Kelly. What has been learned from the previous strategy, and what challenges might arise in tackling inequalities?
Councillor Kelly
The create hope together strategy has, as Morag Williamson covered, taken many important and successful elements of the previous strategy and embedded them. ...
Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
Some of my questions have been touched on, so I will just move on. Over the past few weeks, we have spoken with witnesses who have raised the issue of suicid...
Maree Todd
SNP
As you might imagine, as I represent Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, that issue is very close to my heart. Work is being done in collaboration with Samaritan...
Marie McNair
SNP
Councillor Kelly, is there anything that you or your colleagues from COSLA want to add?
Councillor Kelly
It is vital that we address the socialisation and rural aspects as part of the strategy. The same goes for the many issues that relate to specific groups and...
Eddie Follan (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)
I echo that. In response to the convener’s first question, one of the differences is that the every life matters strategy is a joint strategy: it is about na...
Haylis Smith (Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)
We meet local leads regularly on a monthly basis. They are able to help us to shape what we are doing nationally and are embedded in that work, regardless of...
Marie McNair
SNP
We also heard—apologies, go ahead, Morag.
Morag Williamson
We all want to have a go at this one. We were very thoughtful about the rural dimension when we were developing the strategy. One of our guiding principles...
Marie McNair
SNP
We have heard about the increased risk to people who are in prison and about the issues with getting adequate support when they move on from prison. Could yo...
Councillor Kelly
That is part of the work that is done when someone leaves prison. Support for them can be available through local authorities, which should be reflected in a...
Haylis Smith
Public Health Scotland is leading work to look at action plans for high-risk settings, such as prisons. I am working alongside colleagues in the Scottish Pri...
Marie McNair
SNP
Do you know of any charities that work specifically with people who are leaving prison? Sorry to put you on the spot. If you do not have the information, I t...
Haylis Smith
I do not have the information to hand. We recently visited HM Prison Edinburgh and spoke a lot with the Barnardo’s service there that supports families of pr...
Marie McNair
SNP
That would be really helpful. Thank you.
Maree Todd
SNP
We can certainly look at the work that we do alongside charities that work with prisoners. From previous roles in the Government, I know about the work that ...
Marie McNair
SNP
Holistic support is really important as well.
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Good morning to the witnesses. I will focus on the potential impacts of the strategy for groups that are disproportionately impacted by suicide. In the evide...
Maree Todd
SNP
I am happy to start, but I am pretty sure that nearly everyone will want to contribute. We agree that it is not appropriate to take a one-size-fits-all appr...
Haylis Smith
There are a number of areas that we are looking at. The minister mentioned the changing rooms programme and its focus on football. Just recently, there has b...