Creating Hope Together: Scotland's Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2026-2029
The second three year action plan of Creating Hope Together: Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022-2032)
Creating Hope Together: Our Ten Year Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022-2032)
We published our ambitious ten year suicide prevention strategy Creating Hope Together in 2022. The vision, aims and outcomes remain in place and so continue to guide our second three year action plan.
Our long-term vision
Our vision is to reduce the number of suicide deaths in Scotland, whilst tackling the inequalities which contribute to suicide.
To achieve this, all sectors must come together in partnership, and we must support our communities so they become safe, compassionate, inclusive, and free of stigma.
Our aim is for any child, young person or adult who has thoughts of taking their own life, or are affected by suicide, to get the help they need and feel a sense of hope.
Guiding Principles
All our work is driven by the following guiding principles which set out our intentions about how we will work to deliver the strategy and action plan/s:
1. We will consider inequalities and diversity to ensure we meet the suicide prevention needs of the whole population whilst taking into account key risk factors, such as poverty, and social isolation. We will ensure our work is relevant for urban, rural, remote and island communities.
2. We will co-develop our work alongside people with lived, and living, experience (ensuring that experience reflects the diversity of our communities and suicidal experiences). We will also ensure safeguarding measures are in place across our work.
3. We will ensure the principles of Time Space Compassion are central to our work to support people’s wellbeing and recovery. This includes people at risk of suicide, their families/carers and the wider community, respectful of their human rights.
4. We will ensure the voices of children and young people[2] are central to work to address their needs, and co-develop solutions with them.
5. We will provide opportunities for people across different sectors at local and national levels to come together, learn and connect – inspiring them to play their part in preventing suicide.
6. We will take every opportunity to reduce the stigma of suicide through our work.
7. We will ensure our work is evidence-informed, and continue to build the evidence base through evaluation, data and research. We will also use quality improvement approaches, creativity and innovation to drive change – this includes using digital solutions.
Outcomes
The actions in this plan are designed to support delivery of the four long-term outcomes:
Outcome 1 – The environment we live in promotes conditions which protect against suicide risk – this includes our psychological, social, cultural, economic and physical environment.
Outcome 2 – Our communities have a clear understanding of suicide, risk factors and its prevention – so that people and organisations are more able to respond in helpful and informed ways when they, or others, need support.
Outcome 3 – Everyone affected by suicide is able to access high-quality, compassionate, appropriate and timely support – which promotes wellbeing and recovery. This applies to all children, young people and adults who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviour, anyone who cares for them, and anyone affected by suicide in other ways.
Outcome 4 – Our approach to suicide prevention is well planned and delivered, through close collaboration between national, local and sectoral partners. Our work is designed with lived and living experience insight, practice, data, research and intelligence. We improve our approach through regular monitoring, evaluation and review.