14 - 2025-12-10 IJB - Probable Suicide Report 2024
North Lanarkshire Council · 10 December 2025
Back to Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board — 10 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 REPORT Item No: 14 SUBJECT: Suicide Prevention update TO: Integration Joint Board Lead Officer for Report: Diane Fraser Author(s) of Report Andrea Breen Anne Marie Darcey DATE: 10 December 2025 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT This paper is coming to the IJB for: For approval ☐ For endorsement ☐ To note ☒ 2. ROUTE TO THE BOARD This paper has been: Prepared By: ☐ Reviewed By: ☐ Endorsed By: ☐ 3. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Integration Joint Board: 1. Note the contents of this report, including current suicide prevention activity, trends, and progress against national and local strategies.
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2 2. Support continued implementation of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022–2032 and associated local action plans, ensuring alignment with national priorities. 4. VARIATIONS TO DIRECTIONS? 5. BACKGROUND/SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES Introduction This report provides the Integration Joint Board with an update on suicide prevention activities across North Lanarkshire. It reflects Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022–2032: Creating Hope Together and its associated action plans, which promote a whole-system approach to prevention. The report aims to inform members of current trends, progress against national and local strategies, and highlight collaborative efforts to reduce suicide rates. This update is presented for noting, ensuring the Board remains aware of key developments, emerging data, and ongoing initiatives that support the delivery of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy and local action plans. Background Suicide remains a significant public health challenge in Scotland, with complex social, economic, and health determinants influencing risk. The five-year average suicide rate (2020-2024) in North Lanarkshire stands at 16.5 per 100,000 population, which is higher than the national average of 14.Detailed data published in September 2025 by the National Records of Scotland shows that in 2024, there were 704 probable suicide deaths across Scotland, a reduction of 86 deaths, or 11%, compared to 2023. In North Lanarkshire, the number of probable suicides also declined, from 61 in 2023 to 57 in 2024, a decrease of 6.5%. Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022 -2032: Creating Hope Together was launched, alongside the National Action Plan The Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) have introduced a strategy to lower suicide deaths in Scotland over a 10-year plan. Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒
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3 Both documents are based on what people said was needed to lower the numbers of suicides. The Strategy sets out long term plans whilst the Action Plan sets out what will happen to help lower the number of suicides in the shorter term. It is recognised Nationally that Suicide is complicated. The Plan looks at what can be done by the Government and others to help lower suicides. Government, businesses, services, health, housing, education, the voluntary sector, and charities must work in collaboration. Suicide is a growing public health crisis. https://www.gov.scot/publications/creating-hope-together-scotlands-suicide- prevention-action-plan-2022-2025/ https://www.gov.scot/publications/creating-hope-together-scotlands-suicide- prevention-strategy-2022-2032 Suicide Prevention continues to remain a priority for Lanarkshire. It is central to Lanarkshire’s Mental Health Strategy and continues to be embedded across work streams to ensure we maximise opportunities for collaborative working. Early in 2025, Lanarkshire Suicide Prevention Reference Steering Group was created for those working across Lanarkshire in suicide prevention roles. The group meets quarterly to share information and offer training and learning opportunities. By increasing awareness and understanding of suicide, we can direct people their friends and families to the appropriate support at the right time. North Lanarkshire Council Suicide Prevention Partnership Board meet every 8 weeks and continue to review the North Lanarkshire Action Plan on a regular basis. With the recent appointment of a dedicated Suicide Prevention Officer Lead in South Lanarkshire Council, there is an opportunity to consider a Pan-Lanarkshire action plan and coordinated approach to suicide prevention work. Men continue to be disproportionately affected by suicide. In 2024, male deaths in Scotland fell by 12% to 518, while female deaths decreased by 7% to 186. In North Lanarkshire, 39 men and 18 women died by suicide, down slightly from 42 and 19 in 2023. Nationally, the male suicide rate was nearly three times higher than the female rate; locally, it was approximately twice as high. The suicide mortality rate in Scotland’s most deprived areas was two and a-half times higher than in the least deprived areas. Although SIMD-specific data is not available at the local authority level, locally held, though unverified, data suggests that over half of suicide deaths in North Lanarkshire were completed by people living in the most deprived communities. Local data also indicates that the age groups most affected by suicide in North Lanarkshire are individuals aged 30–44 and 45–59.
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4 Locally held data for 2024 for the information on age groups. 2024 Female Male Total Female Male 16-29 2 4 6 33% 67% 30-44 9 12 21 43% 57% 45-59 4 13 17 24% 76% Over 60 3 6 9 33% 67% Total 18 35 53 34% 66% The data for 2025 (to date) is shown in the table below which suggests the same age groups are most affected by suicide: The data below is “live time” data which is provided to NLC, suicide prevention Lead, by Police Scotland. It should be noted that 5 year running average data is used to provide a more accurate picture of trends rather than year on year. 2025 Female Male Total Female Male 16-29 2 3 5 40% 60% 30-44 3 4 7 43% 57% 45-59 1 5 6 17% 83% Over 60 1 1 2 50% 50% Total 7 13 20 35% 65% In North Lanarkshire we continue to be focused on groups most at risk of suicide and those hardest to reach, we use a suicide-safer community approach that aims to build communities that talk openly and freely about suicide, promoting wellness and mental health and supporting those bereaved by suicide. We have promoted several campaigns alongside partners and stakeholders to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Over the past three years, North Lanarkshire Council has delivered two targeted suicide prevention campaigns in response to local intelligence. One campaign focused on individuals aged 35 and over, using YouTube and Facebook, while the other targeted the 16–25 age group via Snapchat and YouTube. These digital campaigns have achieved significant reach, generating nearly 3 million impressions and over 26,000 click-throughs to the Council’s suicide prevention webpage from platforms including Google, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
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5 In addition to online engagement, bus shelter digital advertising continues across 17 North Lanarkshire sites, supported by static posters. The FeelWell NL campaign runs seasonally in November, January, and March, promoting mental wellbeing and encouraging use of local amenities such as country parks, leisure centres, and cultural facilities. The Winter Well campaign and booklet will run throughout December 2025 to February 2026. These initiatives aim to engage residents, reduce stigma, promote wellness, and encourage timely access to support services. https://youtu.be/GF9IHOpSU5U, https://youtu.be/hzN8SYZlTPo. The focus is on equipping individuals, along with their families and friends, with the knowledge and confidence to provide support and direct people to appropriate services when needed. This includes signposting to resources such as Samaritans, Breathing Space, Kooth, and Childline. We aim to improve awareness across local communities in North Lanarkshire, and address the stigma attached to talking about suicide. We have launched a ‘Let’s Talk’ badge, which is used as a tool to encourage people to initiate conversation and help to remove barriers to accessing support. We continue to support several joint funding projects, including the Suicide Prevention Football Tournament which took place on 10th September 2025 and the Grassroots Suicide Prevention work with various football clubs throughout NLC Training Learning resources such as Ask, Tell, Respond, safeTALK and ASIST continue to be delivered throughout NHS Lanarkshire (NHSL) and North & South Lanarkshire Council. There are four levels of suicide prevention training offered including Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Suicide Talk and Safe Talk. The team works closely with partners including Samaritans, Breathing Space, and Childline. Training is delivered to around 1,500 people including staff and supporters at sport and community clubs and organizations, third-sector groups, schools and colleges. Trauma Informed Training is now available to all staff within North Lanarkshire Council. NHS Lanarkshire Health Improvement has developed a Mental Health Improvement, Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Training Pathway. This pathway aligns with the NHS Education for Scotland Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention Framework:Scotland’s Knowledge and Skills Framework for Mental Health Improvement, Self-harm and Suicide Prevention is a tool to support development of knowledge and skills across all public services and beyond. The framework includes four domains that cover: promotion of good mental health, improving quality of life, tackling mental health inequalities, supporting people in distress or crisis, promoting resilience and recovery, preventing self-harm and suicide.
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6 It also outlines the knowledge and skills required across four levels of practice: informed, skilled, enhanced and specialist. The NHS Lanarkshire Public Mental Health and Health Improvement Team have structured the Mental Health Training Pathway to reflect this framework. It serves as a tool to encourage the public health workforce to progressively build their knowledge and skills relevant to their roles and responsibilities in mental health. Additional Interventions and Supports: Distress Brief Intervention The SG’s “Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland, the Governments Programme for Scotland, 2020-21, published Sep 2020, set out that it expected local health boards and H&SC Partnerships to have DBI embedded locally by 2024. Lifelink is the commissioned service for DBI. Lifelink have been commissioned jointly by NLC, SLC and NHSL to provide support to all Lanarkshire residents. This commissioned service commenced on 1st April 2024. (see Appendix 1) Children and Young People DBI which is available to young people in S3 and above and is being delivered across 4 pilot schools in NLC until 2026. Lifelink is the Provider in place. Lifelines is also in place within the school environment. This is a Pan-Lanarkshire multi-agency guidance tool aimed at supporting children/young people who may be at risk of self-harm and/or suicide. Lifelines Assessment and intervention guidance will mostly be used by those working direct in an enhanced way with children/young people. (see Appendix 2) Kooth & C&YP (see Appendix 3) Time Space Compassion – NHSL The Time Space Compassion approach continues to be rolled out across NHS Lanarkshire (NHSL), with a particular focus on Primary Care, Unscheduled Care, and community settings. This initiative aims to ensure that the risk of suicide is considered in these environments and that individuals can offer compassionate, culturally sensitive support when someone is suicidal. The approach is grounded in valuing and supporting people, addressing gaps and inconsistencies in care, and focusing on individual experiences. It emphasises human connection and relationships, providing a shared language, resources, and actionable strategies for collective support. By embedding the Time Space Compassion approach in key care settings, NHSL aims to foster environments where individuals at risk of suicide feel understood and supported. This culturally sensitive and compassionate framework enhances the ability of healthcare and community professionals to respond effectively and empathetically to those in crisis. https://www.gov.scot/publications/time-space-compassion-support
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7 6. CONCLUSIONS While progress is evident, the higher-than-average suicide rate in North Lanarkshire, combined with socioeconomic and gender disparities, reinforces the importance of sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration, and community engagement to achieve the national ambition of reducing suicide deaths and promoting mental wellbeing. Current initiatives including community engagement campaigns, structured training pathways, and multi-agency interventions such as Distress Brief Intervention and school-based pilots demonstrate progress toward a whole-system approach. However, continued investment in data-driven strategies, cross-sector collaboration, and stigma reduction is essential to achieve Scotland’s long-term ambition of reducing suicide deaths and improving mental wellbeing. 7. IMPLICATIONS 7.1 NATIONAL OUTCOMES Link(s) to National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes People are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing and live in good health for longer ☒ People, including those with disabilities or long-term conditions, or who are frail, are able to live, as far as reasonable practicable, independently and at home or in a homely setting in their community ☐ People who use Health and Social Care Services have positive experiences of those services, and have dignity respected ☐ Health and Social Care Services are centred on helping to maintain or improve the quality of life of people who use those services ☐ Health and Social Care Services contribute to reducing health inequalities ☒ People who use Health and Social Care Services are safe from harm ☐ People who work in Health and Social Care Services feel engaged with the work they do and are supported to continuously improve the information, support, care and treatment they provide ☐ Resources are used effectively and efficiently in the provision of Health and Social Care Services ☐ 7.2 ASSOCIATED MEASURE(S)
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8 To ensure progress and alignment with Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy and local action plans, the following indicators will be monitored: 1. Suicide Rate – Annual change in suspected suicides within North Lanarkshire. 2. Training Uptake – Number of individuals completing suicide prevention training (ASIST, safeTALK, Suicide Talk). 3. Community Engagement – Participation levels in suicide prevention campaigns. 4. Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) Access – Percentage of referrals receiving support within 24 hours. 5. Children and Young People Support – Number of schools implementing Lifelines guidance and DBI for S3 and above. 6. Stigma Reduction – Increased public awareness and willingness to discuss suicide, measured through initiatives such as the “Let’s Talk” badge. 7.3 FINANCIAL Successful delivery of these initiatives will require sustained investment to maintain impact and effectiveness. This paper has been reviewed by Finance: 7.4 RISK ASSESSMENT/RISK MANAGEMENT Relevant Risk Register Details Current Risk Level Risk Owner Choose an item. 7.5 ENGAGEMENT & PARTICPATION Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒
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9 Please tick the engagement and participation objectives that link(s) with this piece of work and provide further details regarding the engagement and participation that was undertaken. Objectives Further Details ☐ Involve stakeholders in the development work aimed at achieving the national outcomes ☐ Provide stakeholders with information on how to get involved ☐ Ensure a diverse range of engagement and participation and opportunities are in place to suit different needs ☐ Measure how well we involve community stakeholders in the planning, design and delivery of our services ☐ Provide regular feedback on how stakeholder engagement and participation is shaping and influencing service development and delivery ☐ Provide support to enable stakeholder representatives to participate meaningfully and confidently at meetings ☐ Develop participation guidelines to ensure a common understanding and set of expectations for both stakeholders and partnership staff ☐ Support engagement planning and participation in localities, taking account of other engagement activity and local plans across the Community Planning Partnership 7.6 INEQUALITIES & FAIRER SCOTLAND DUTY EQIA Completed & Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment Form Completed and attached to report: EQIA added to website: Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒ Yes / Date added ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒
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10 8. BACKGROUND PAPERS 9. APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 DBI level 2 Monthly Submission Summary Lifelink National DBI level 2 Monthly Submission Summary Lifelink South Lanarkshire DBI Level 2 Monthly Submission Summary All Lifelink Lanarkshire Areas APPENDIX 2 Lifelinks Lanarkshire – Background to Guidance and Implentation APPENDIX 3 KOOTH AND C&YP CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER (or Depute) Members seeking further information about any aspect of this report, please contact the following; Diane Fraser, Chief Officer Social Work (Adults)
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11 APPENDIX 1
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15 APPENDIX 2
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16 Appendix 3 KOOTH Kooth is a Free, safe, anonymous and online mental health support https://www.kooth.com/ C&YP Services & Resources Directory, May 2024 https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/childrens-services/mental-health-services-and-resources-directory/