New Creating Hope podcast series published

We're pleased to announce that a new podcast series, Creating Hope, has been published.

Each of the four episodes, features a different theme, predominantly aimed at people working in or around suicide prevention.

These thought provoking discussions involving a range of people with different experiences, making this a fascinating listen.

We asked local suicide prevention implementation leads Susie (pictured above, left), Rob and Jenny from Public Health Scotland introduce the new podcast.

It’s really nice to have an excuse to take a break from your screen now and again.

We all know it’s bad for us to sit there all day, but we are all so busy it’s hard not to feel guilty for stepping away.

Which is why when it came to finding a way to share some learning around key topics in suicide prevention, we knew we didn’t want to produce yet another paper or briefing.

Hence the idea for The Creating Hope Podcast was born.

We’ve been working for the best part of three years now supporting the local suicide prevention workforce, and in particular our local Suicide Prevention Leads.

Susie, Jenny and Rob from Public Health Scotland present the podcast alongside Jenny and Jess

They are driving forward work to reduce suicide in their respective local authority areas across Scotland.

It’s been inspiring to see the passion and dedication across the range of partners involved to make a difference for people in our local communities.

The Creating Hope podcast series is our way of responding to what we were hearing and observing about areas where people might benefit from additional learning. It also offers us the chance to highlight areas of good practice in the hope of inspiring others.

The areas we have focused on are:

• Involving lived and living experience — presented by Susie

• Utilising data to inform suicide prevention activity — presented by Rob

• Work with children and young people — presented by Jenny F (not to be confused with Jenny, pictured above!) and Youth Advisory Group member Jess

• Bereavement by suicide — presented by Susie

Because we are not experts in any of these areas, for each episode we invited a panel of guests to take part in a conversation which pulls out some of the key themes we have identified for each topic.

Panel members included local suicide prevention leads, third sector partners, individuals with lived and living experience, academics, and our own colleagues from Suicide Prevention Scotland.

The result is four illuminating and thoughtful conversations which we hope will support the local suicide prevention workforce as they continue to drive forward work across Scotland.

And the best bit about it other than our insightful hosting skills (lol)? You can listen and learn while you sit in your garden with a cuppa, walk the pooch, prepare your lunch…anywhere at all except in front of that screen! You can thank us later! 😊

You can listen to our new podcasts wherever you get yours — simply search for Suicide Prevention Scotland. Alternatively get our feed on Podbean or YouTube.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help, speak to someone you trust or call one of these helplines:

• Samaritans — 116 123 or use the online chat at samaritans.org

• Breathing Space — 0800 83 85 87

• NHS 24 mental health hub — 111

• PAPYRUS HOPELINE247–0800 068 4141 or text 88247

If you are ever in immediate danger or have the means to cause yourself harm you should dial 999 and request an ambulance.