Local action plan - South Lanarkshire

Suicide prevention has a high priority in South Lanarkshire Council with all council and NHS employees being given access to suicide prevention training organised and supported by our Corporate Training Section. This training is also available to residents of South Lanarkshire Council and can be accessed by contacting training@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or calling 03031231015  and asking for Amy Murray, Corporate Training Section.

There is also the opportunity to deliver SafeTalk or SuicideTalk in other settings (examples include induction training for new Police recruits and a multi-faith group in East Kilbride). Any ideas can be discussed with the Choose Life Coordinator - view the full list of Choose Life Co-ordinators' contact details.

A range of promotional materials have been created to help improve the spread of the ‘Suicide. Don’t hide it. Talk about it.’ key message. These materials can be accessed by contacting the Choose Life Co-ordinator for South Lanarkshire.

In the South Lanarkshire Council area the responsibility for promoting good mental health and wellbeing is integral to preventing suicides. Each year, money is provided via the Choose Life steering group to pilot new ideas or to continue work for effective in promotion of wellbeing. Examples include:

• funding the publication of the Positive Ageing booklet that challenges mental health myths 
• Move the Goalposts football coaching which is reaching some of our most isolated communities
• Samaritans work in schools to encourage school leavers to talk about difficulties they experience
• Universal Comedy - working with people with severe and enduring mental health issues
• counselling service for grandparents who are either kinship carers or are denied access to their grandchildren.

Funding application forms can be requested from the South Lanarkshire Choose Life Co-ordinator. Please note this fund is under £15,000 for the whole year ,so is only applicable to small projects or on a part funding basis. The money is not recurrent.

The steering group for Choose Life is made up of a wide range of partners who meet every six weeks and act as a coordinating body for suicide prevention activities in South Lanarkshire Council Area.

For more information on mental health resources in Lanarkshire visit: www.elament.org.uk

Further information

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