This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Launch of Suicide Prevention Week
05/09/2005
Scotland's participation in International Suicide Prevention Awareness Week was launched today.
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald also announced additional funding of £250,000 specifically to tackle suicide in the Highlands and other remote and rural areas.
Mr Macdonald said:
"Suicide prevention is everybody's business. That is what our Choose Life strategy is all about.
"Last year in Scotland 835 people lost their life to suicide. Every life lost in this way is tragic and touches the lives of families and friends as well as local communities.
"There is not one known cause of suicide - it is a very complex issue and there are manywide and varying contributing factors. AThose such as alcohol and drug abuse, mental illness, depression, redundancy, long-term unemployment, debt, loneliness, isolation or bereavement can all put people at greater risk of suicide.
"Our national strategy for suicide prevention, Choose Life, is making good progress through local and national action to prevent suicide. We have already committed £8.4 million over 2006-08 to ensure this good work continues.
"I am pleased today to be able to announce additional funding of £200,000 which will be targeted on supporting suicide prevention work in the Highlands and other remote and rural areas of Scotland. A further £50,000 will be given to the Breathing Space telephone line for increasing their work in the same areas of the country."
Iain McMillan, Director of the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland added his support:
"CBI Scotland is committed to supporting the positive mental health and well being of the people of Scotland. Suicide prevention is everybody's business. We support the Choose Life initiative aimed at reducing the number of premature deaths in Scotland".
Bill Spiers, General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress, added:
"The STUC agrees with the principles underpinning the 'Choose Life' strategy and our need to continue efforts to eliminate poverty, achieve greater social justice and inclusion for those who are vulnerable in our communities, improving and expanding educational opportunities, improving self esteem and confidence - especially in young people.
"We must all work together to help reduce premature loss of life from suicide. Suicide affects men and women of all ages and cultures, and is an issue for workplaces and therefore trade unions. This week is an important way of highlighting the long term challenge we face in saving lives in Scotland."
The Executive has developed a 10 year national strategy called 'Choose Life' which aims to reduce the number of suicides in Scotland by 20% by 2013. Since its launch in December 2002, significant progress has been made in putting action plans in place at both local and national level and there is now an identified Choose Life local co-ordinator working in every local authority area in Scotland.
Choose Life funding to support suicide prevention for 2003-2006 was £12 million. Further funding of £8.4 million will be invested over 2006-2008. Annually, £3.2m of the funding is allocated to local Community Planning Partnerships in support of the development and implementation of local suicide prevention action plans. This includes support for training and local community based action. The £250,000 announced today is additional to this funding.
Some examples of local events taking place during the week include:
· Tuesday 6 September - Media event at Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club in support of Highland efforts on suicide prevention.
· Wednesday 7 September - Alcohol and suicide prevention conference in Renfrewshire.
· Thursday 8 September - Conference on Suicide Prevention, Carlton Highland Hotel, Edinburgh.
In nine secondary schools in East Dunbartonshire production of a play, 'A Bag of Worries'
· Friday 9 September - Event/rally at 11am at Calender Park in Falkirk - Suicide Prevention Awareness event, 400 people expected.
Media Event at Livingston Football Club - launch of a small grants scheme and launch of Livingston FC football cards in support of suicide prevention.
· Saturday 10 September - World Suicide Prevention Day:
A 'Walk for Hope' starting at Paisley town hall at 10.30am.
A new Choose Life website www.chooselife.net is also being launched along with an on-line "toolkit" with examples of resources that can be used by professionals, communities and individuals to help prevent suicide.
Choose Life is taking forward work on preventing suicide as one of the 4 key aims of the Scottish Executive's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing. The National Programme's other 3 key aims are:
· Raising awareness and promoting positive mental health and well-being
· Eliminating stigma and discrimination in relation to mental ill-health
· Promoting and supporting recovery