Creating Hope - Conference 2025
Welcome to our hub for Suicide Prevention Scotland's annual conference, which took place in Glasgow.
Hello & welcome
Suicide Prevention Scotland works across sectors to reduce suicide whilst tackling the inequalities which contribute to it. Over the last two years, we have explored what this means and how we can best do this.
This year’s conference focused on key areas of inequality connected to suicide risk which were identified through this work.
On this hub you will find information, resources, links and copies of all the key presentations along with behind the scenes images and vox pop films.
Marketplace posters
As part of our Creating Hope Together Conference for 2025, we invited organisations to submit their own 'posters' about projects they've undertaken. They were asked to think about how Time Space Compassion was embedded into practice - and what difference it made. To view them, click here.
Reflecting on key themes from the conference
With a focus on addressing inequalities, the conference featured a wide range of speakers and workshop topics, with prevention at the core.
Looking back on her experience at the conference, Zahra Hedges, Chief Executive Officer at Winning Scotland and a member of the National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group (NSPAG) has reflected about the important of prevention.
"So many of the conversations I'm having these days are about prevention- the more we can get it right for more people earlier we will have less need for crisis intervention," she said.
Zahra set out some key reflections on the day in terms (in no particular order):
It is good to talk - but talking alone isn’t enough. Are our systems and processes actually set up to do something with what people share?
We can tell people it’s okay to open up, but if we’re not truly listening - or if no change follows - what’s the point?
There’s no such thing as ‘hard to reach’ groups. There are only people it’s easier to ignore
Too often, the focus is on ‘fixing’ individuals when what really needs fixing is the system around them
Stigma feels intangible, but it shows up in very real, very concrete ways - and those can become almost impenetrable barriers
If you’re worried about someone, ask them directly if they’re thinking about suicide. It’s a hard question, but an important one
Isolation is a massive risk factor. So is neurodivergence - there’s plenty of evidence showing that autistic and ADHD folks are more likely to die by suicide
Right, let's introduce the keynote speakers...
Our keynote speakers
Karin Goodwin spoke about the power of reshaping the narrative and how we share more truthful stories about suicide. You can view her presentation here.
Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport was joined by Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, and were jointly interviewed by members of the LLEP and YAG.
Talat Yaqoob challenged the room to dig deeper into our thinking and action around addressing the mental health consequences of poverty and inequality. View Talat's presentation here.
Conference evaluation - coming soon
Right now we're gathering feedback and insight from this year's conference. We'll publish what delegates told us, and then explain what that might mean for the future. Stay tuned!
Lived experience at the centre
The Creating Hope Together Conference was chaired by members of Suicide Prevention Scotland’s Lived and Living Experience Panel and Youth Advisory Group.
Skye, a member of the Youth Advisory Group talks about the impact of the changes that were made to the conference setup.
This came after the Lived & Living Experience Panel and Youth Advisory Group provided feedback that they’d like to be more involved in 2025!
Workshop themes
We had a brilliant programme of workshops for this year's conference. Click on the workshop name to download the associated presentation!
The Spider In The Glass - Trauma and the abusive relationship
Understanding & Responding to Children & Young People at risk of suicide - a collaborative approach
Homelessness and suicide prevention; good practice and gaps
Understanding the association between suicide and gambling harms
Lonely or Alone? Exploring the experiences of loneliness and social isolation in the UK
Smile - you're on camera!
Behind the scenes images from this year's Suicide Prevention Scotland conference
"A great example of how to make events accessible"
As a lived-experience voice at these events, there are always so many 'close to home' moments that can make the day feel quite intense. I found myself teary-eyed more often than not. Suicide Prevention Scotland do an excellent job of keeping attendees safe; offering listening volunteers throughout the day and encouraging an open door policy where people can step out of the agenda for as long as they need. They are a great example of how to make events accessible for us, as people with lived-experience.
Charlotte, Suicide Prevention Scotland Lived & Living Experience Panel
Speed presentations
Partners in Suicide Prevention Scotland were challenged to explain their work in just five minutes, answering ‘how are you creating hope?’
Creating Hope in Local Areas
The Suicide Prevention Implementation Leads, hosted by Public Health Scotland, support and champion the work of local suicide prevention leads.
One example of how they are supporting learning across the wider local suicide prevention workforce is with a newly released podcast series covering suicide bereavement, use of data, involving people with lived and living experience and children and young people.
Download the presentation here
Working with Lived and Living Experience
Tracy Millar from SAMH talked about how the principles of Time Space Compassion are used to ensure that LLEP members have a positive experience while working in suicide prevention.
For learning and insights from the Panel’s journey, read the latest evaluation report here.
Download the presentation here
Four Steps to Co-production
Lawrence and Lauren from Electrify, provided their insight on co-producing Scotland's new national suicide prevention campaign, What If…
They shared the four key steps that shape the process.
Building Mentally Flourishing Workplace
Public Health Scotland's Graeme Stevenson walked us through the Mentally Flourishing Workplace Framework. This is a free framework for any organisations regardless of size or sector, designed to help you create a mentally flourishing workplace for all employees.
Developed by Public Health Scotland, with support from organisations across the country, Mentally Flourishing Workplaces (MFW) helps you assess what you’re already doing for staff mental health, identify gaps, and explore new approaches.
Download the presentation here
Suicide Prevention in Education Settings
Jenny Ferguson at COSLA highlighted a report which explored children and young people’s needs in relation to suicide prevention. It includes the opportunities to prevent and intervene when a young person has been impacted by suicide in education.
Alongside previous national work undertaken, written practice stories have been gathered and feature in a podcast around a whole school approach to suicide prevention.
Download the presentation here
Supporting Workplaces Following Suicide
Cruse Scotland CEO Fiona Arnott-Barron talked about the support that can be offered to organisations following a suicide.
How we're having conversations about suicide
We asked delegates how they are having meaningful conversations about suicide, reflecting our commitment to Scotland's biggest ever conversation about the topic. You can also watch these on YouTube shorts.
Thomas - Dad's Rock
Natalie & Anton - A Place Called Here
Jenny - Public Health Scotland
Maree Todd - Minister for Mental Wellbeing
Skye Morgan - Youth Advisory Group
Chris Sutherland - British Transport Police
Cllr Paul Kelly - Health & Social Care Spokesperson, COSLA
Marianne Etherson - Academic Advisory Group
Key commitment on inequalities
We were pleased that Minister for Mental Wellbeing Maree Todd and COSLA Health & Social Care spokesperson Paul Kelly joined us at the conference. They reinforced the Scottish Government and COSLA’s commitment to tackling the inequalities of suicide.
Recognising that everyone has a part to play in preventing suicide, they highlighted the importance of working in partnership with a diverse range of people and organisations to achieve our shared aims of ensuring that anyone who has thoughts of suicide, or who is affected by suicide gets the help they need and feels a sense of hope.
Go social with us!
Join us on #SuicidePreventionScotland channels and find more pictures, film and information from our conference
X
