Samaritans Scotland mark World Suicide Prevention Day with green light campaign and workshops to help others talk about suicide safely and responsibly.
Last week, on the 10th September, we marked World Suicide Prevention Day. Throughout the year, everything we do centres on working towards a Scotland where fewer lives are lost to suicide. But, on World Suicide Prevention Day, our work feels particularly important as we think of those whose lives have been affected by suicide.
We had lots going on across our staff and volunteer teams throughout the week. On the evening of the 10th September, several iconic Scottish landmarks supported our World Suicide Prevention Day campaign by lighting green, shining a light on suicide prevention and Samaritans’ services. These included Falkirk’s famous Kelpies sculpture, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura, Museum on the Mound, and Balmoral Hotel, Glasgow Science Centre, Discovery Point Dundee, Shetland’s Lerwick Town Hall, and Marischal College and King’s College in Aberdeen.
Museum on the Mound, Edinburgh, courtesy of Matt Hosgood..
Glasgow Science Centre, courtesy of Paul Kane.
Stirling Castle, courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland.
Lerwick Town Hall, courtesy of Shetland Islands Council.
We hosted a workshop at the Scottish Parliament for MSPs and staff, to talk about how we can speak about suicide safely, responsibly, and compassionately. We also took part in a Suicide Prevention Cross-COSLA Elected Members Session, alongside Public Health Scotland and Suicide Prevention Local Leads, where we shared our insight on speaking about suicide safely for elected representatives across Scotland’s local authorities. Safe conversations about suicide can help reduce stigma and make it easier for people to seek help, and it’s important that those in public office feel supported and equipped to talk about suicide and self-harm responsibly in their roles.
Out on the rail network, our fantastic volunteers took part in ‘Carriage Conversations’, chatting to commuters, being visible, and showing people across Scotland that we’re here for them.
Suicide prevention matters every single day. Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK and Ireland dies by suicide. But suicide isn’t inevitable. This World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September), Samaritans is encouraging everyone to be prepared to interrupt if they’re worried someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. Find advice on how to start a conversation, listen and support someone at www.samaritans.org/interrupt.