Suicide Prevention Scotland
We know that talking about suicide is the best way to prevent it. On our Suicide Prevention Scotland podcast channels you’ll find different series that explore a range of themes that underpin our work.
Welcome to Suicide Prevention Scotland
Suicide Prevention Scotland is the community of people and organisations working together to deliver the Scottish Government and COSLA’s new suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together. On this channel we’ll publish limited edition podcast series that explore some of the key issues in our work to prevent suicide.
What If Podcast with Amy Irons
Amy knows what it's like to lose someone you love to suicide.
That's why she agreed to join Suicide Prevention Scotland to present our new podcast.
Over four compelling episodes, Amy will meet a range of brilliant guests who will share their experience and insight.
In doing so, you'll gain a deeper understanding of suicide - why it happens, and what we can do about it.
Episodes
May 15, 2025
May 15, 2025
25 min
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this fourth episode, we explore a whole school approach to suicide prevention, including the eight principles that school communities can take to support the well-being needs of their children and young people.
In Part 02, our guests discuss their experiences of working with children and young people.
Our hosts Jenny Ferguson (Delivery Lead for Children and Young People, Suicide Prevention Scotland) and Jess Carlyle (Suicide Prevention Scotland Youth Advisory Group member) are joined by Steven Sweeney (Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Coordinator, Perth and Kinross Council) Fiona Hewitt (Development Officer - Health and Wellbeing, Renfrewshire Council) & Eilidh James (Quality Improvement Officer, North Ayrshire Council).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA
Supporting documents - Mental health and wellbeing: whole school approach: framework - gov.scot
Safeguarding: Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention | Resources | Education Scotland
The Cycle of Wellbeing | Resources | Education Scotland
Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are a young person or you are supporting a young person you can receive support from Papyrus on 0800 068 4141 (text 07860 039 967), Childline on 0800 1111 or Shout by texting “SHOUT” to 85258.
Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
May 15, 2025
May 15, 2025
33 min
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this fourth episode, we explore a whole school approach to suicide prevention, including the eight principles that school communities can take to support the well-being needs of their children and young people.
In Part 01, each of our guests tell us about their own individual practice stories.
Our hosts Jenny Ferguson (Delivery Lead for Children and Young People, Suicide Prevention Scotland) and Jess Carlyle (Suicide Prevention Scotland Youth Advisory Group member) are joined by Steven Sweeney (Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Coordinator, Perth and Kinross Council) Fiona Hewitt (Development Officer - Health and Wellbeing, Renfrewshire Council) & Eilidh James (Quality Improvement Officer, North Ayrshire Council).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA
Supporting documents - Mental health and wellbeing: whole school approach: framework - gov.scot
Safeguarding: Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention | Resources | Education Scotland
The Cycle of Wellbeing | Resources | Education Scotland
Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are a young person or you are supporting a young person you can receive support from Papyrus on 0800 068 4141 (text 07860 039 967), Childline on 0800 1111 or Shout by texting “SHOUT” to 85258.
Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
May 15, 2025
May 15, 2025
37 min
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this first episode, we explore working with those who have lived and living experience of suicide.
Our host, Susie Heywood (Suicide Prevention Implementation Support Lead, Public Health Scotland) is joined by Keir McKechnie (Lived and Living Experience Panel Coordinator with SAMH), Catriona McDougall (Project Coordinator with Scottish Recovery Network) and Laura Junor (Member of the Suicide Prevention Scotland Lived and Living Experience Panel).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Scottish Recovery Network
COSLA
Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
May 15, 2025
May 15, 2025
42 min
Welcome to the Creating Hope podcast, powered by Public Health Scotland & Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each episode of this limited edition series we’re exploring a key area of work within suicide prevention, and how this can be implemented locally.
In this second episode, we explore data and intelligence – what is, and how does it inform our suicide prevention work.
Our host, Rob Kelly (suicide Prevention Implementation Support Lead, Public Health Scotland) is joined by Mary-Grace Burinski (Senior Health Promotion Officer, Fife Health & Social Care Partnership), Andrew Murray (Principal Information Analyst, Public Health Scotland) and Shirley Windsor (Organisational Lead, Public Health Scotland).
Key links for this episode:
Home - Suicide Prevention Scotland.
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
COSLA
NRS Probable Suicides 2023
ScotSID
Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
Call 999 if you are in immediate danger, or have the means to cause yourself immediate harm, for example by serious injury or overdose.
Feb 22, 2025
Feb 22, 2025
38 min
Welcome to season 02 of Time Space Compassion, a podcast from Suicide Prevention Scotland.
In each show we’re exploring three important words that are a key part of the Scottish Government’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.
In this episode we discuss:
Community based crisis care
Compassionate MH emergency care
Implementing trauma informed practice
Collaborative and community based working
No wrong door
Gender based violence
Host Lawrence Broadie is joined by Wendy Given from Anchor House Perth, Krish Veramootoo, a Scottish Ambulance Service mental health paramedic, and Angie Pinkerton, Trauma lead for South Ayrshire.
Also with us is Myra Ross from NHS Highland who delivers a couple of powerful poems she's written, too.
Editor: Emily George
Key links for this series:
United to Prevent Suicide
Suicide Prevention Scotland Medium blog
NHS Inform - Surviving Suicidal Thoughts
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Creating Hope Together - Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Resilience Learning Partnership
SAMH - The Changing Room
Penumbra
Scottish Recovery Network
Glasgow Complex Needs Project
Lighthouse Perth
COSLA
Anchor House Perth
Scottish Ambulance Service
SAMH(SAMs Café)
SAMs Café
Support is available:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
If you are ever in immediate danger or have the means to cause yourself harm you should dial 999 and request an ambulance.
Introducing the Creating Hope podcast
Powered by Public Health Scotland, our Creating Hope podcast explores a range of issues that people working in suicide prevention may find helpful.
Episodes include working with people who have lived and living experience, using data and evidence, support for people bereaved, and how to work with young people.
Time Space Compassion
In each episode, we’re exploring the issues around three simple words that are a key part of the culture that underpins support for people in immediate suicidal crisis.
We’re joined by a range of professionals, academics and people with lived experience to explore some of the key issues including: trauma, language, trust, behaviours, lived experience and peer-support, and how the charity and public sector can deliver positive outcomes.