New suicide prevention group has youth focus
National body responds to rising rates of young taking their own life
Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) is launching a youth advisory group – supported by the University of Stirling.
The new group is aimed at informing and improving policy from the perspective of those with lived experience.
Established by the Scottish Government and COSLA, NSPLG brings together people with lived experience of suicide alongside, academic, professional third sector, and statutory partners to support the delivery of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Every Life Matters.
National charity Children in Scotland is partnering with the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit (NMAHP-RU) at the University of Stirling to recruit, host and manage the new Youth Advisory Group. They will assemble a panel of 12 young people aged 16 to 25 who will meet regularly for an initial period of 11 months to gather and share views to inform future policy.
The launch of the youth advisory group follows the successful establishment of an adult ‘Lived Experience Panel’ set up in 2018-19 to inform the development of NSPLG’S action plan.
Recognised by the World Health Organisation as an example of best practice, NSPLG is hopeful that the youth advisory group is the credible next step to listening to, understanding and responding to those with lived experience, and also a critical move in helping to address the escalating rates of youth suicide in Scotland.
The Chief Scientist Office (for Scotland) funded Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit (NMAHP-RU) at the University of Stirling has focused on mental health and suicide research for more than 20 years.
Dr Lynne Gilmour, Research Fellow in the NMAHP-RU, is co-principal Investigator on the group. She said: “Suicide is a leading cause of death in children and we are determined to ensure that the voices of young people are heard as part of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan.
“Listening to young people is vitally important to ensure that the objectives of the plan are meaningful and helpful to children and young people who may need to access help and support for suicidal thoughts and or behaviours.”
The group also benefits from the oversight and management from Professor Margaret Maxwell and Professor Helen Cheyne, both NMAHP-RU at Stirling, with extensive experience of conducting and managing research in relation to suicide and mental health more generally.
Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care said: “The Scottish Government sees the incredible value of listening directly to people with lived experience of mental health challenges, to help shape and design our policies and approaches.
“I encourage young people to get involved in this unique group, which I’m confident will help to identify what works well, and what we must do to go further, to reduce suicide deaths in Scotland.”
The launch of the new advisory group comes in the wake of a 2019 review of suicide prevention policy by the University of Stirling and NMAHP-RU which found that policy wasn’t meeting the needs of children and young people. An increasing ask from services is that policy reflects the experience of and the needs of children and young people.
We are determined to ensure the voices of young people are heard as part of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan