National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group minutes: February 2026

Attendees and apologies

Members

• Prof Christine Goodall (Chair), University of Glasgow
• Dr Cath Aspden, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Dr Alastair Cook, NHS Lanarkshire
• Dr Rebecca Don-Kennedy, Equality Network
• Annika Joy, Simon Community Scotland
• Brendan Rooney, Chief Executive, Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust
• Supt. Melanie Wade, Police Scotland
• Gillian Cooper, Police Scotland (observing)
• Prof Andrea Williamson, Professor of General Practice and Inclusion Health, University of Glasgow

Apologies

• Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance
• Catherine McWilliam, Nation Director for Scotland, Institute of Directors
• Prof Rory O’Connor, Chair of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Academic Advisory Group (AAG)

In Attendance

• Nicola Dickie, COSLA
• Haylis Smith, Suicide Prevention Scotland National Delivery Lead

Secretariat

• Hilary Third, Scottish Government
• Craig Wilson, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcome

Christine Goodall (“the Chair”) welcomed everyone to the eleventh meeting of the National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group (NSPAG) (“the Group”). She reminded members that part of this meeting would be devoted to hearing more about the new phase of the national Suicide Prevention Campaign, as members had been invited to join a briefing session run by Suicide Prevention Scotland’s strategic communications partner, Electrify. 

Apologies

Apologies were noted. Christine also advised that Zahra Hedges had stood down from the Group having left her role at Winning Scotland to return to university. 

NSPAG Role & Priorities for Action in 2026/27

There was a broad discussion around the Group’s role and priorities for 2026/27. This built on the earlier discussion at the Group’s previous meeting. 

The Group considered a number of key questions set out in a discussion paper, which focused on how it could make the most effective contribution to addressing the key issues and priorities from the Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan. A number of different aspects were discussed, and suggestions from group members included:

• Focusing work on thematic areas of expertise and producing shorter insight papers throughout the year, aligned with key policy events and publications rather than a single annual report. It was also noted that dynamic engagement with stakeholders and communities is required as well as producing reports.
• Creating an online space for capturing evidence and input throughout the year, and for sharing opportunities and challenges around suicide prevention. This could include horizon scanning, and highlighting suicide prevention issues raised by the networks in their wider roles, sectors and communities.
• Developing a timeline setting out work planned across the year to help the Group inform and shape the work, and share it with their networks and communities.
• Receiving occasional updates from strategic outcome leads to help keep the Group connected to work happening across Suicide Prevention Scotland and maximise opportunities for shared learning and collaboration.
• Collecting information on Members’ involvement on other groups and areas of work to share with Suicide Prevention Scotland’s Strategic Outcome Leads and Delivery Leads, so that relevant expertise and connections can be made to help inform, shape and progress specific areas of work.

It was noted that the Group has good access to academic work through the Academic Advisory Group (AAG). However, the Group was keen to ensure that it took sufficient account of input from the Lived and Living Experience Panel (LLEP) and the Youth Advisory Group (YAG). It was suggested that there should be an opportunity for LLEP and YAG members to meet the Group as well as considering purposeful joint events with the wider suicide prevention network.

The Group considered whether a single formal group is the best way to fulfil NSPAG’s purpose given the wide range of communities and sectors disproportionately impacted by suicide, or whether there were alternative ways of working. It was agreed that a single unified group does work as the Members’ diverse expertise creates strong intersectional insight, but smaller groups can be created to work on specific themes.

There was some uncertainty about when it is appropriate for Members to represent and advocate the work of the NSPAG at external meetings and events, and they would welcome clarification on this.

The Group concluded that however it works, it should continue to act as a critical friend to Scottish Government, COSLA and Suicide Prevention Scotland, as well as highlighting emerging issues in Members’ respective areas. It was also agreed that intersectionality must remain central to the Group’s work.

The secretariat confirmed that notes of this discussion will help inform a paper on next steps for NSPAG. Scottish Government and COSLA will also be invited to add their own views and this will be shared with the Group for further discussion at the next meeting.

Group Membership

The Group had a private discussion around its membership to identify gaps in expertise and propose new members to strengthen representation, policy influence, and practical frontline insight. The Chair will develop a short paper outlining recommended next steps and future direction for the group which will be shared with the Scottish Government and COSLA for their views.

Policy Update

It was highlighted that the pre‑election period starts at the end of March. There are no NSPAG meetings or outputs scheduled during the pre‑election period, and none are anticipated. Members were invited to contact the policy team with any concerns or queries around potential restrictions.

As noted at the previous meeting, an independent evaluation had been planned to assess whether the current delivery model best supports future work. No tenders were received for the evaluation work due to workload pressures during the pre‑election period for external consultancies. The policy team will be considering the best approach to evaluating the model of delivery, and the timing of this, and will provide a further update in due course.

It was announced that Suicide Prevention Scotland’s annual conference would take place on 27 May 2026 in Glasgow. Members were encouraged to attend for networking and collaboration opportunities.

AOB

Members were invited to contact the policy team if they would like a hard  copy of the new three‑year Suicide Prevention Action Plan to be sent to them.

Future meetings would be a mixture of online and in person to ease travel requirements. The next meeting would take place online on either 19 or 20 May – Members were invited to confirm their availability with the policy team.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and expressed her appreciation for Members' contributions.