Scottish Christian.com

Home > News > Scottish Christian News Monitor

Copying Scots' anti-suicide plan

After an apparent spate of suicides in Bridgend, the Welsh Assembly Government is to discuss plans for a suicide prevention action plan. A similar strategy already exists in Scotland.

Since September 2006, 21 young people have apparently killed themselves in the south Wales former mining area.

In a fresh impetus, Wales Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced an anti-suicide campaign, modelled on a similar project in Scotland.

Launched by the Scottish Executive in December 2002, Choose Life specifically targets those groups who are most at risk of suicide: young people, people with mental health problems, those with a record of self-harm, drug-users and prisoners.

Elaine Campbell, from The Western Isles Choose Life project, counts the Hebridean suicide prevention week every September as one of her successes.

She says: "Last year, we engaged with between 400 and 500 people - people who we would not otherwise come into contact with."

A further 400 people the length and breadth of the Hebridean islands have received training in how to recognise the symptoms of someone with suicidal feelings.

Trainees include teachers, police officers, church ministers, coastguards and tradesmen.

By 2013 - when the Choose Life strategy is complete - Ms Campbell hopes that 1,500 people will be qualified in suicide 'awareness'.

Full story at BBC Scotland News.