Local action plan - North Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire has a nominated Choose Life co-ordinator who plays a key role in implementing North Lanarkshire’s local action plan. Some of these actions are:

• Raising awareness of suicide prevention. This has been achieved through unique methods such as working in partnership with taxi companies (Airdrie Taxis, Central Cars and United Taxis), Motherwell Football Club, 5-a-side football (www.spwfives.org) and Zumba, as well as bus, rail and washroom advertising.
• North Lanarkshire Council has evaluated the impact of this awareness raising in partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University and Centre for Men's Health.
• Training staff in North Lanarkshire Council social work and housing, Strathclyde Police, Scottish Ambulance Service, Fire Service, NHS Lanarkshire, education - teachers, lecturers, students and pupils. Crucially North Lanarkshire Council has looked at training key community people such as taxi drivers and staff in restaurants, as suicide is a community issue.
• North Lanarkshire Council was invited to present at the European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour 13 in 2010. Recent activity with sport brought about an invitation to present at the Westminister Parliament in 2012.
• As drugs and alcohol use can be a factor in suicide, Choose Life is a partner with the local Drug Related Death Group which has engaged with local GPs and the organising of a local conference on Drug Related Death. This has also led to work with the Scottish Drugs Forum.
• The most important aspect of the success of the Choose Life Activity is working with a wide range of partners to ensure that suicide prevention is everyone's business. A recent addition has been the work with McDonald's restaurants in North Lanarkshire.

Further information

For more information about North Lanarkshire’s suicide prevention activities, contact the North Lanarkshire Choose Life Co-ordinator - view the full list of Choose Life Co-ordinators' contact details.