Work is ongoing to tackle West Dunbartonshire’s high suicide rate, according to health chiefs.
Officers have outlined a range of initiatives which are underway in response to calls for more to be done after the region recorded its highest number of suicide deaths in a decade.
Figures revealed that 18 people from West Dunbartonshire died of suspected suicide in 2021 – the highest in 10 years.
The area also has the highest suicide rate in Scotland among women over the last four years.
Councillor Karen Conaghan tabled a motion at a full West Dunbartonshire Council meeting in August asking what more could be done, and calling for a report to be provided outlining the steps currently being taken.
It read: “Council is concerned that in West Dunbartonshire deaths by suicide continue on an upwards trend.
“We are all too aware of the link between social deprivation and mental ill health.
“The global pandemic and now the subsequent cost of living crisis have only added to the levels of depression and anxiety felt by many in our communities.”
A report prepared by Sylvia Chatfield, head of mental health, learning disabilities and addictions, will be discussed at the next full council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
Suicide prevention programmes and activities are coordinated by the Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Suicide Prevention Group (CPWD SPG).
Actions are coordinated at both NHS board and HSCP/Community Planning Partnership level.
The paper states that the group has an action plan covering seven priority areas, including reducing the risk of suicide in high-risk groups, reducing access to the means of suicide and providing better information and support to those bereaved or affected.
To deliver the plan, a number of subgroups have been established which will focus on the different areas.
The report states that the group will continue to support and develop a local Bereavement and Loss Support Service which was established in December 2020 and is showing high levels of uptake.
Future plans for this service include the establishment of a peer led support group.
Detailing some of the work underway, the paper states: “Specialised bereavement and loss training has been delivered to local staff by Cruse Scotland (for the general population) and by Richmond Hope (for those who work with children), and over the period June 2021 – June 2022 a total of 71 staff have taken part in online bereavement and loss training sessions.
“West Dunbartonshire has also continued to provide suicide prevention/self harm training to frontline staff in line with Covid restrictions, with 59 staff currently trained over the same June 2021 – June 2022 period.”
The group has also been working with the Samaritans as part of the local promotion of Suicide Prevention Day/Week.
It adds: “We continue to make linkages with key partner networks and we are now a member of the West Dunbartonshire Water Safety Group and at national level we have been an active member of the Public Health Scotland’s suicide prevention cluster guidance working group (with guidance due to be released shortly).”
In September, the Scottish Government and COSLA published a new 10-year suicide prevention strategy, ‘Creating Hope Together: Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022-32’.
It sets out a vision to reduce the number of suicides in Scotland while tackling underlying social issues that can cause people to feel suicidal, such as poverty, debt and addiction.
To ensure the local action plan mirrors the recommendations, a CPWD Suicide Prevention Group development session will take place on November 8.
Anyone affected by the issues raised in this article can call the Samaritans for confidential support.
Trained advisors are available to be contacted for free 365 days a year on 116 123.
