Meeting the challenge: podcast series

Each of our six podcasts feature a range of views and perspectives from contributors across policy, research, health and community services, and people with lived experience of self-harm.

Podcast 1: Hidden Too Long

In our first podcast, contributors discuss the prevalence and impact of self-harm in Scotland and the challenges and opportunities for a renewed policy approach to address this often hidden public health issue.

Podcast 2: Why do we need a strategy?

In this podcast, Sir Peter Housden, former Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government, and Rachel Cackett, Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, discuss the role of strategy in addressing difficult issues such as self-harm.

Podcast 3: The Definition Challenge

In our third podcast, Professor Rory O’Connor, Director of the Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab at Glasgow University, Sam Harrison, support manager with Penumbra, and Rachel Cackett, Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, discuss the importance of definition and its implications for policy and service responses to self-harm.

Podcast 4: The Talking Openly Challenge

In this podcast, Lawrence Broadie, Director of Electrify Marketing and Communications, Lorna Fraser, who leads Samaritans’ Media Advisory Service, and Laura Clarke, policy and research officer at Samaritans, explore the challenges and benefits for raising awareness and talking openly about self-harm, both on and offline.

Podcast 5: The Harm Prevention and Reduction Challenge

In this podcast GP Carey Lunan, Kat Paterson, Senior Primary Care Mental Health Nurse, Sam Harrison, support manager with Penumbra, and Allie Cherry-Byrnes, Chief Executive of youth charity Fast Forward, discuss how services can effectively respond to self-harm through harm reduction and prevention approaches.

Podcast 6: What makes the difference?

In this podcast, we hear from Liam, Stephanie and Steven, who all have lived experience of self-harm, about what made the difference to them and how policy and services can work to reduce stigma and improve support