Each year, 10^th September is marked as World Suicide Prevention Day, where organisations and communities raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide.

Each year has a different theme and focus, to highlight a specific aspect of suicide prevention.

For 2020, Public Health Scotland has launched a new campaign: United to Prevent Suicide.

United to Prevent Suicide is a social movement of people from across Scotland, united in a shared belief that everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide.

They have released a new website, and a free stakeholder guide (with branding guidelines and resources) and media images. Individuals and organisations can sign up to the movement via the website home page; they will then receive a suicide prevention pack with information on talking about suicide and how to show support for the campaign.

The stakeholder guide and media images can be used by anyone, and resources can be adapted within reason by request; all details are included within the guide.

The guide also contains the movement’s key and supporting messages, which outline its aims and how it intends to do this.

“Key Messages:

Scotland has a new approach to suicide prevention. It involves all of us because:

we should be confident to talk about suicide
we should be confident to connect someone to the right support
language is important. Saying the word suicide isn’t a trigger, it can help save a life
we must tackle stigma around suicide
we need people like you to join the movement for change

Supporting Messages:

This new approach includes:

building a social movement of people with a shared belief in preventing suicide
improving our knowledge and skills in suicide prevention with the development of new learning resources, available to everyone
improving our approach to those bereaved by suicide through the development of a new dedicated service
using digital technology to improve suicide prevention
a new approach to crisis care for those of us who experience suicidal thoughts
increased resources to support improved local action in every area of Scotland
inspiring leaders across all aspects of life in Scotland to create a culture that supports preventing suicide
increasing our understanding of suicidal behaviour to inform action to prevent its occurrence”

For further information, including how to sign up to the movement, please visit the new United to Prevent Suicide website.

Alternatively, view or download the stakeholder guide and media images (an email signature and Twitter graphic) via the CVS Falkirk website.