Question reference: S6W-02410
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 23 August 2021
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 9 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to renew its suicide prevention strategy once the current action plan expires.
Answer
We are working with COSLA and stakeholders to develop a new long-term suicide prevention strategy for Scotland. The new strategy will be outcomes-focussed, and its development will be directed by the voices of lived experience. It will be informed by data and evidence, and adopt a cross-government approach to ensure the Government continues to take all actions it can to reduce the number of people who die by suicide. The new strategy will be published in September 2022, supported by an initial delivery plan.
As announced to Parliament in June this year, our continued focus, pace and evaluation on suicide prevention will be achieved by extending activities under the current Suicide Prevention Action Plan (Every Life Matters ), for a further year, up to the point the new strategy is published. This approach has the full backing from partners, including COSLA and the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group.