Creating Hope Together: Dundee's New Plan to Tackle Suicide and Build Community Support

A new initiative in Dundee, "Creating Hope Together," has been launched with the aim of supporting those struggling with suicidal thoughts or affected by suicide in other ways. This plan, developed by multiple organisations working together, outlines the city's vision for suicide prevention over the next three years, focusing on making Dundee a place where people of all ages can access help, feel supported, and find hope.

The approach Dundee is taking is rooted in collaboration, inclusivity, and compassion. "Creating Hope Together" calls on every part of the community, schools, workplaces, health services, and families, to play an active role in preventing suicide and supporting those at risk. The ultimate aim is to foster communities that are safe, understanding, and free from stigma, where everyone has a role in promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Elaine Torrance, the Independent Chair of the Dundee Adults and Children at Risk Committees, expressed the importance of this new initiative, highlighting the profound impact of each life lost to suicide. She said, “Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy that has a wide-reaching impact on families, friends, and wider communities. Although we will never be able to accurately quantify the number of lives saved, this new plan represents a significant step forward in our commitment to preventing suicide in Dundee.” Her words capture the plan's heart: the recognition that each life matters, and that communities can make a difference by uniting to tackle this issue.

The plan lays out several actions designed to create a supportive environment throughout Dundee. Key elements include:

• Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces: Making Dundee’s communities, workplaces, and services more open and stigma-free, ensuring that anyone struggling can access support without fear of judgment.

• Promoting Continuous Learning: Training community members and professionals across sectors to understand the risks, signs, and support mechanisms related to suicide. This ongoing education ensures that everyone has the tools and knowledge to help those in crisis.

• Building Compassionate Connections: Encouraging a culture of empathy and understanding where people reach out to one another, creating networks of support that stretch across the entire community.

By emphasising collaboration, equality, and fairness, "Creating Hope Together" aims to bring people from all walks of life together to provide high-quality support for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or those affected by a suicide loss.

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the most recent statistics, which paint a stark picture of the challenges ahead. In 2023, Scotland saw 792 probable suicides, with 30 of these occurring in Dundee, a small but heart-breaking increase from the previous year. Suicide rates remain notably higher among men, who are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. Furthermore, the most deprived areas see suicide rates more than three times higher than those in the least deprived areas, illustrating how poverty and social inequality contribute to the crisis.

The numbers reveal the severity of the issue but also serve as a call to action for Dundee and Scotland as a whole. Tackling the societal and economic factors contributing to these rates is a challenging but essential aspect of suicide prevention.

In addition to the long-term goals, Dundee is providing immediate resources for those in distress. For anyone needing support or worried about a friend or family member, the "Suicide? Help!" app and the website www.suicidehelp.co.uk offer guidance and contacts for urgent assistance. This effort to make help easily accessible is a crucial part of the city’s approach, ensuring that anyone in crisis has somewhere to turn.

"Creating Hope Together" is more than a plan; it’s a promise from the community of Dundee to its residents that they don’t have to struggle alone. Through ongoing support, education, and the elimination of stigma, this initiative is paving the way for a Dundee where people feel valued, supported, and, most importantly, hopeful.