Download document: Samaritans Scotland Winter Update 2022/23
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Our winter 2022/23 update showcases what the Samaritans Scotland team and our volunteers have been up to over the last three months to help ensure fewer people die by suicide in Scotland.
What have we been up to in winter 2022/2023?
Parliamentary Debate
The Scottish Parliament hosted a debate, put forward by Jim Fairlie MSP, on Male Suicide. The debate focused on suicide rates in Scotland, and the latest statistics which show that 75.03% of people who died by suicide were men. Parliamentarians commended the work that Samaritans Scotland do across the country and welcomed the new Suicide Prevention Strategy & Action Plan from the Scottish Government.
Winter Campaign
The 2022 winter campaign focused on the message ‘break the silence around suicide’. The campaign encouraged people to open up, instead of suffering alone. The winter season is always a busy time for our volunteers, and thanks to their wonderful efforts – alongside the kind donations of our supporters – they were able to be that listening ear to people struggling at this time of year.
Branch Spotlight
Our Dundee branch hosted an engagement event in December with local volunteers, our Executive Director, Neil Mathers, and Michael Marra MSP. Michael Marra MSP submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament commending the efforts of our volunteers and celebrated the branch reaching its 60th anniversary in 2022
Brew Monday
We held our annual Brew Monday event in January, alongside our wonderful Glasgow Samaritans volunteers at Glasgow Central Station. The event was also attended by local parliamentarians and gained both national and local media coverage on the day. A big thanks to Barrs’ Irn Bru & Lees of Scotland too, for donating drinks and confectionary to our stall at the station.
