Services for adults with thoughts of suicide

If you, or someone you know, are experiencing thoughts of suicide, this page provides information about local initiatives and sources of support which are available both locally and nationally. Information is also available for those who have been bereaved by suicide.

Choose Life

Choose Life is a national strategy and action plan aimed at addressing the rising rate of suicide in Scotland. Published by the Scottish Government in December 2002, it is part of a wider National Programme to Improve the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Scotland’s Population. The programme aims to reduce suicide rates across Scotland by 20% by 2013.

Choose Life requires action at both a national and local level. Nationally, the Scottish Government has developed a National Implementation Support Team (NIST), providing support and information to local areas. Locally, the Scottish Borders Action Plan has been developed and implemented by the Choose Life Steering Group which represents Social Work, Health and the Voluntary Organisations. Its aim is to reduce suicide rates across the area. More information is available on the Choose Life website (this link will take you to another site).

Who is Choose Life for?

The answer to this is everyone. Suicide can affect anyone at any point in their lives. Any event we experience in our lives could lead to thoughts of suicide. A death from suicide can have a knock on effect for a large number of people, not only friends and family but a whole community may be affected. Through the local action plan, Choose Life aims to provide support for those in need and also to provide resources for members of the public to feel confident to step in to help a person at risk.

What services do we provide?

A number of services have been established through local Choose Life funding, including:

specific projects to help young people with mental health problems
general awareness raising initiatives
training courses which are available free of charge to anyone living or working in Scottish Borders.

Where can I get more information?

If you or someone you know are concerned about suicide, or if you have been bereaved by suicide, please call your local Social Work office. You may also find the following information helpful:

Information about the Choose Life Project and training courses are available as follows:

Scottish Borders Choose Life Project, providing details of member organisations and rationale for the project (pdf 48.1kb)
Scottish Borders Choose Life Steering Group, members of the Strategy and Working Groups (pdf 30.8kb)
training course details, both local and national
National Choose Life Strategy, available from the Scottish Government (this link will take you to another website).