Higher Risk Settings and Circumstances Engagement Summary

Here you can find the presentations, practice examples and outputs from our 4 engagement sessions in March 2026

Purpose of the engagement

The Higher Risk Settings & Circumstances engagement sessions were designed to support the continued development of national work focusing on those at higher risk of suicide, in line with our Creating Hope Together priorities and associated delivery actions.

The sessions aimed to:

Update on national work underway on Higher Risk Settings & Circumstances
Test and refine a shared understanding of what is meant by “higher risk settings” and “higher risk circumstances”
Create space for different sectors and settings to share current practice, challenges and learning
Support engagement, dialogue and relationship building across sectors to help shape future priorities and development of this work

What we did

A total of four engagement sessions were held during March 2026, comprising a mix of in‑person and online events, to enable broad participation across sectors and geographies. These sessions were hosted by Public Health Scotland as part of the Suicide Prevention Scotland programme.

Format and locations

The sessions included:

In‑person events, in Edinburgh, Glasgow & Aberdeen
An online session hosted via Microsoft Teams

This blended approach was intended to maximise accessibility while retaining opportunities for in‑depth discussion and networking.

Session structure and content

Across all four sessions, a consistent core structure was used:

1. Welcome and context setting

Overview of the purpose of the engagement
Ground rules emphasising care, respect, lived experience and psychological safety

2. Update on national work

An overview of current national work on Higher Risk Settings & Circumstances
Links to Creating Hope Together delivery priorities, including Action 1.2 on giving particular consideration to people at higher risk of suicide depending on settings, circumstances or population groups

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3. Practice examples

A range of practice examples were shared to illustrate how suicide prevention activity is being taken forward in different higher‑risk contexts. These included:

Practice from HMP Barlinnie Prison Health Care, the University of Strathclyde, the Offshore Energy Sector & RSABI was showcased (one example at each event)
These examples highlighted elements such as the development and use of tailored resources, and commonalities between settings/sectors.

The intention of the sessions was to offer practical, real‑world examples that could prompt reflection and discussion across sectors.

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4. Facilitated discussion and engagement

Small‑group table or breakout discussions
Participants were invited to reflect on a range of prompts, including:

What “higher risk settings” or “higher risk circumstances” mean in their own context
Which settings or circumstances might you prioritise and why (e.g. impact, feasibility, equity)
What the focus of work should be over the next three years

Light‑touch facilitation and note‑taking supported the capture of key themes and reflections without placing an undue burden on participants.

Engagement and participation
The sessions brought together participants from a wide range of sectors and roles, including statutory services, third sector organisations, policy colleagues and practitioners working directly within higher‑risk settings or with populations experiencing higher‑risk circumstances.
Feedback from participants highlighted the value of:
Hearing directly from people working in different settings
Opportunities for discussion, reflection and shared learning
Making new connections and understanding parallel work happening across Scotland
This approach was intentionally designed to support dialogue rather than consultation alone, recognising that learning and change often emerge through discussion and shared reflection.