National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group: annual report 2024-2025

3. NSPAG Members

The membership of the NSPAG reflects our purpose of providing strategic advice to the Scottish Government, COSLA and Suicide Prevention Scotland, by sharing our insights and strategic perspectives on the context, complexities, intersectionality and inequalities which so often can lead to increased risk of suicide.

Members of the NSPAG bring professional leadership experience of, and connections into, a range of policy areas including equalities and human rights, care experience, education, poverty, criminal justice, business leadership, community development, the youth sector, violence prevention, mental health, primary and secondary care, homelessness and health inclusion. We each also bring our own lived and living experience of suicide and its impacts.

This year a couple of members stood down from their roles on the group and we have recruited other members to fill their places as well as others who we feel can help us to offer a more inclusive and complete view of society and wider experience of professional leadership.

NSPAG Members 2024/25

Prof Christine Goodall OBE*, (Chair), Professor of Oral Surgery and Violence Reduction, University of Glasgow, Honorary Consultant Oral Surgeon and Founder and Trustee Medics against Violence

Dr Catherine Aspden*, Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Emergency Medicine at the Deep End

Dr Alastair Cook*, Consultant in Psychiatry, NHS Lanarkshire

Zahra Hedges*, Chief Executive, Winning Scotland

Louise Hunter, Chief Executive, Who Cares Scotland?

Peter Kelly, Chief Executive, The Poverty Alliance

Dr Rebecca Don Kennedy*, Chief Executive Officer, Equality Network

Catherine McWilliam, Director of Nations, Scotland, Institute of Directors

Matthew Paden*, Chief Superintendent, Policing Together, Police Scotland

Brendan Rooney, Executive Director, Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust

Prof Andrea Williamson, GP and Professor of General Practice and Inclusion Health, University of Glasgow, GPs at the Deep End Scotland.

*Indicates new members who have joined NSPAG in 2025

Members resigning during 2024/25

Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM

Dr Linda Findlay, Royal College of Psychiatrists Scotland

Sheriff David Mackie, Scottish Association Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (SACRO)

Matthew Paden, Chief Superintendent, Policing Together, Police Scotland

Dr Douglas Hutchison, past President, Association of Directors of Education, Scotland

New members joining after the reporting period

Annika Joy, Programme Director, Simon Community Scotland

Derek Cree, Detective Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland