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Our impact updates showcase what the Samaritans Scotland team and our volunteers have been up to over the last few months to help ensure fewer people die by suicide in Scotland.
What have we been up to?
Policy Update
Our staff team responded to the release of data from National Records of Scotland in its annual update on suicide statistics for 2023. There were 792 deaths by suicide in 2023, this was an increase of 30 from the previous year, and the second consecutive rise.
In the media, ITV, The Herald and Daily Record covered Samaritans Scotland Neil Mathers’s response, while Danielle Rowley was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland.
Lived Experience Advisory Group
We established our Lived Experience Advisory Group, who will come together once a month to help shape our work in the coming year. This work includes advising on our campaign messaging, examining reports published by the Scottish Government and supporting our work as a lead on Creating Hope Together, Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy.
Samaritans Awareness Day 2024
We marked Samaritans Awareness Day on July 24 by highlighting the incredible work of our volunteers across the 24 hours. Volunteers from our Email Hub, Dundee, Dumfries, Inverness, Perth and Shetland branches shared their stories, talking about what a normal shift looks like for them and why they put themselves forward to become a volunteer with Samaritans.
Branch Spotlight
Our branches and volunteers have been busy!
Edinburgh branch delivered their ‘Healthy Hairdressers’ workshop, with the support of a £2000 donation from Nationwide Building Society.
In Glasgow, volunteer Joan Cameron was awarded a British Empire Medal for her dedication to Samaritans in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Aberdeen Samaritans teamed up with Cala Homes to create a short film to help increase awareness of mental health issues in the construction industry.