In June this year my departmentissued guidance to local authorities on implementation of the Choose LifeNational Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland. This guidance, which isavailable through the website of the National Programme for Improving MentalHealth and Wellbeing (www.wellontheweb.net) , sets out what is expected oflocal areas in relation to training, coordination, community infrastructure,local innovative practice, information sharing and other issues which will helptowards the goal of reducing the suicide rate in Scotland by 20% by 2013.