The National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland

The Scottish Government's Choose Life strategy was launched in December 2002 as part of the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and WellBeing Action Plan in Scotland and now resides as a multi-partnership programme within NHS Health Scotland.

Choose Life is a 10 year plan aimed at reducing suicides in Scotland by 20% by 2013.  It is the product of over 2 years work which drew on the experience and expertise of a broad range of partners including the family members of people who had attempted or completed suicide, health and social care workers, teachers, young people, suicide survivors, public health specialists, voluntary and community agencies, and many others.

The strategy and action plan aims to ensure we take action nationally and locally to build skills, improve knowledge and awareness of 'what works' to prevent suicide, improve opportunities to prevent premature loss of life and provide hope and optimism for the future.

Choose Life Objectives

• Early prevention and intervention
• Responding to immediate crisis
• Improving support for hope and recovery
• Providing support to those who are affected by suicidal behaviour or a completed suicide
• Awareness raising and encouraging people to seek help early
• Supporting the media in reporting of suicide
• Knowing what works

Choose Life Priority Groups

• Children (especially looked after children)
• Young people (especially young men)
• People with mental health problems
• People who have attempted suicide
• People affected by the aftermath of suicidal behaviour or completed suicide
• People who abuse substances
• People in prison

The Scottish Government publication Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland, 2009-2011 sets out targets and commitments for the development of mental health services in Scotland. Published in May 2009, it makes a commitment to reduce the suicide rate between 2002 and 2013 by 13%, supported by 50% of key front-line staff in mental health and substance misuse services, primary care and accident and emergency being educated and trained in using suicide assessment tools/suicide prevention training programmes by 2010.