►
Description
Members' Business: World Suicide Prevention Day
A
The
final
item
of
business
is
members
business
debate
on
motion
22632
in
the
name
of
ruth
maguire,
on
world
suicide
prevention
day,
and
this
debate
will
be
concluded
without
any
questions
being
put
with
those
members
who
wish
to
speak
in
the
debate.
Please
press
the
request
to
speak
buttons
and
I
call
on
ruth
maguire
to
open
the
debate
for
around
seven
minutes.
Please
miss
maguire.
B
B
It's
a
leading
cause
of
death
among
young
people
and
men
are
three
times
more
likely
to
take
their
own
lives
compared
to
women.
It's
not
an
easy
thing
to
think
about.
It's
not
an
easy
thing
to
talk
about,
but
we
must
talk,
and
I'm
really
grateful
to
colleagues
from
across
the
chamber
who
signed
my
motion
allowing
this
debate
to
go
ahead,
so
we
can
do
just
that.
Talk,
and
I
look
forward
to,
I
know,
will
be
their
thoughtful
contributions
and
insights
as
we
come
together
to
raise
awareness
this
evening,
dining
officer.
B
It
feels
a
little
strange
opening
this
debate
remotely,
but
the
last
six
months
has
been
just
that
strange
and
strange,
perhaps
isn't
strong
enough.
Maybe
what
I
really
mean
is
worrying,
uncomfortable
stressful
and
at
times
totally
overwhelming.
So
perhaps
now
more
than
ever,
we
need
to
talk
and,
of
course,
listen
in
this
place.
We
know
how
powerful
words
are.
They
can
anger,
divide
and
exclude,
but
they
can
also
provide
comfort,
understanding
and
assistance,
and
it's
really
important
that
we
know
saying
the
word:
suicide
isn't
a
trigger.
It
can
help
save
a
life.
B
B
B
B
Whilst
recognizing
that
we
need
a
national
approach,
targeted
local
actions
to
communities
facing
the
greatest
risks
would
seem
crucial,
too
presiding
officer.
Members
will
be
well
aware
of
the
good
work
of
many
organizations
and
groups
working
nationally
and
in
their
own
constituencies,
and
it's
not
just
those
who
are
directly
supporting
mental
health.
B
I'd
like
to
finish
by
just
commending
all
those
working
towards
our
shared
vision
for
scotland,
where
suicide
is
preventable
where
help
and
support
is
available
to
anyone
contemplating
suicide
and
to
those
who
have
lost
a
loved
one
to
suicide
suicide
prevention
is
everybody's
business.
Let's
keep
talking
and
acting
to
make
that
vision,
a
reality,
presiding
officer.
A
C
Thank
you
presiding
officer,
and
I
am
also
speaking
remotely
and
from
my
hometown
in
dumfries,
and
I
welcome
the
opportunity
to
speak
in
this
important
debate
and
congratulate
my
friend
and
colleague
ruth
mcguire,
and
bringing
it
forward
thanks.
Sam
h
and
support
in
mind
and
see
me
scotland,
for
their
briefings.
Also,
I
find
them
always
very
useful.
C
And
we
know
we've
spoken
about
this
before
every
life
matters
and
suicide
is
preventable
as
convener
of
the
mental
health
cross-party
group
and
health
committee.
Deputy
suicide
prevention
is
something
which
I'm
keenly
aware
of,
and
I've
reflected
in
preparing
for
this
debate,
and
my
thoughts
are
with
families
whom
I
know
who
have
been
affected
by
someone
who
took
their
own
life.
Deciding
officer
2020
has
been
a
year
like,
like
no
other.
C
In
scotland,
as
around
the
world,
we
have
faced
this
covet
19
pandemic
and
it's
had
an
impact
on
the
mental
health
of
all
from
our
older
persons
and
those
with
disabilities,
who
have
been
shielding
the
young
people
who
have
missed
out
on
school
and
contact
with
their
peers.
But
those
who
are
having
to
work
from
home
or
who
have
lost
their
income
is
therefore
essential
that
all
possible
actions
are
taken
to
support
people
who
may
be
at
risk
of
suicide
because
of
covert
19,
including
in
remote
and
rural
areas,
such
as
the
freezing
gallery
region.
C
C
It's
extremely
important
for
authorities
and
government
and
healthcare
professionals
to
learn
from
each
experience,
to
listen
to
families
and
to
implement
effective
policies,
and
I'm
pleased
that
this
is
approach.
The
approach
that's
been
taken
by
the
scottish
government
based
on
10
actions
proposed
by
the
national
suicide
prevention
leadership
group,
the
nsplg.
I
welcome
their
commitment
to
mental
health,
first
aid
training
and
the
commencement
of
distress,
brief
intervention
approach
by
healthcare
professionals,
and
I
welcome
the
introduction
of
the
role
of
counsellors
in
schools.
Dng
have
a
interesting
approach:
they're
calling
the
councillors
youth
information
officers.
C
Many
rural
mental
health
organizations
such
as
resabi
and
support
in
mind.
Scotland,
have
noted
that
rural
and
social
isolation
is
one
of
the
contributing
factors
to
suicidal
thoughts
and
isolation
is
something
I'm
going
to
talk
about.
Now.
We
have
some
great
examples
across
the
freezing,
galloway
and
ruth
mcguire
has
mentioned
main
sheds.
There
are
some
organizations
that
are
working
to
address
isolation.
C
Another
group
which
actively
supports
engagement
is
the
dumfries
and
galloway
farmers
choir,
and
I
was
pleased
to
host
and
hear
the
fabulous
farmers
choir
sing
here
in
parliament
on
the
garden
lobby
steps
last
november.
They
sounded
fantastic
and
they
have
been
active
during
lockdown
checking
on
their
members
and
promoting
positive
well-being
and
inclusion
using
social
media.
The
group's
fundamental
aim
is
to
reduce
social
isolation
and
show
others
in
the
community
that
they're
not
alone,
and
that
there
are
people
who
will
support
them
if
they
need
it.
C
784
people
died
by
suicide
in
2018
in
scotland
and
that's
an
average
of
two
people
every
day,
but
due
to
the
disruption
caused
by
the
pandemic,
we
don't
have
the
statistics
for
2019.
Yet
and
some
each
and
other
mental
health
partners
believe
that
it's
crucial
that
up-to-date
data
on
suicide
is
published
as
soon
as
possible,
so
that
they
can
check
that
the
measures
to
reduce
numbers
of
suicides
are
effective.
C
D
D
One
of
the
things
I
wanted
to
mention
was
was
was
the
family
of
friends
that
are
around
those
who
are
caught
in
that
that
that
that
bubble,
that
that
suicide
bubble
and
who,
who
are
driven
towards
taking
their
own
life
and
how
difficult
it
is
for
the
family
around
them.
Every
waking
moment
you're
wondering
where
they
are
you're
worrying.
D
D
I
think
that
I
remember
being
at
one
of
those
meetings
with
with
the
the
gp
and
and
securing
that
time
in
in
the
gp
surgery
and
the
gp's
approach
to
that
was
to
ask
three
questions
we're
in
with,
with
with
you
know,
poor
mental
health.
The
first
question
was:
have
you
ever
thought
about
taking
your
own
life
and
I
thought
to
myself
what
happens
if
they
never
thought
about
that
and
now
they're
thinking
about
it?
D
I
didn't
like
I
didn't
like
that
question
and
then
the
next
question
was
how
much
physical
activity
do
you
do,
and
the
third
question
was:
what's
your
sex
life
like,
of
course,
I
thought
there's
a
great
answer
to
that.
He
says:
well,
while
I'm
married
don't
be
silly,
you
know
that
idea
to
try
and
cover
up
the
heart
and
the
pain
with
with
with
a
little
bit
of
humor.
D
So
I
think
what
I
think
the
the
system
in
itself
and
this
there's
no
politics
involved
in
this
at
all.
I
think
the
systematically
look
at
the
whole
system
how
we
can
support
because
support
that,
because
there's
many
many
many
more
people
involved
around
this.
As
I
said
at
the
start
than
I
would
ever
have
thought
of,
I
think
you
know
one
of
the
things
we
do
have
to
consider
and
has
been
mentioned
by
by
the
first
two
speakers.
D
D
I
think
we've
lost
them
in
camonica
and
northern
valley.
We
have
of
the
the
highest
rise
in
in
addiction
deaths
in
in
scotland
and
what
I'm
hearing
from
them
is
that
they
don't
know
they
don't
know,
because
they've
lost
touch
with
the
people
who
were
involved
in
addiction.
So
I
think,
and
the
police
have
picked
up
on
that
slack
and
they've-
there's
a
third
increase
in
their
call-outs
with
people
with
mental
health
issues.
D
I
think
you
know
you'll
not
be
surprised
to
hear
that
you
know
when
I
look
at
the
same
h-
and
I
look
at
you-
know:
mental
health,
scotland
and
their
impact
and
sam
h,
who
promote
activity
as
a
as
a
solution
to
pure
mental
health
and
mental
health.
Scotland
who
promote
they've,
got
a
great
a
great
booklet,
called
food
for
thought.
D
They
talk
about
nutrition
as
a
as
an
approach
to
mental
health
and
that
ability
to
participate
or
to
socialize
or
to
integrate
the
we
perhaps
took
for
granted
prior
to
coping,
but
just
to
finish,
one
of
the
things
that
I
was
really
glad
that
ruth
maguire
highlighted
was
was
the
impact
on
the
male
population,
specifically
within
deprivation,
and
I've
always
thought
we
know.
We
know
that
the
male
population
are
much
more
likely
to
take
their
own
life
and
we
know
that's
more
likely
to
happen
within
the
deprived
areas.
D
So
we
know
where
these
issues
are.
Why
aren't
we
targeting
our
resources
towards
that?
And
that
would
that
would
be
my
my
ask
of
the
minister:
where
can
we?
How
can
we
take
our
resource
and
target
it
specifically,
and
we
know
where
the
biggest
task
is.
I
say
once
again
I
thank
with
maguire
for
bringing
this
debate
to
the
chamber.
Thank
you.
E
Thank
you
very
much
presiding
officer
and,
like
the
others,
I
want
to
thank
my
colleague
ruth
mcguire,
for
bringing
this
to
the
chamber
in
suicide
prevention.
They
talk
about
collaboration,
collaborators
and
super
psy
prevention.
One
of
those
is
those
who
sort
of
live
through
the
personal
experience,
and
so
I
thought
that
it's
only
appropriate
that
as
somebody
who
gave
it
a
go,
but
thankfully
wasn't
successful,
I
would
try
and
explain
some
of
the
reasoning
behind
that.
E
You
get
to
a
point
where
you
think
that
nobody
cares
and
nobody
understands
and
that's
all
on
you
and
you're
useless,
and
all
that
all
the
things
I've
explained
this
before
in
articles
and
and
I've
said
in
the
chamber,
and
then
you
don't
know
where
else
to
go,
and
it's
not
that
there's
not
people
there.
It's
just
that.
You
can't
get
through
the
wall
between
you
and
them
very
often
they
don't.
They
don't
recognize
it
because
brian
just
used
the
example
there
of
the
guy
and
the
doctor
surgery.
E
E
I
decided
that
I
had
to
get
treatment,
which
was
probably
the
the
sort
of
cart
before
the
horse,
but
it
worked
out
well
and-
and
I'm
where
I
am
now,
but
the
issues
don't
go
away,
it's
what
it's
your
coping
mechanisms
that
come
in
and
it's
about
being
able
to
say.
Okay,
I'm
depressed
that
I'm
stressed,
I
mean
I
take
pills
every
day
to
deal
with
anxiety
with
stress
with
depression,
but
that
that
allows
me
to
lead
the
life
I
lead.
E
Is
you
look
at
your
friends
if
there's
something
off
just
have
a
look,
just
have
a
wee
word
and
just
see
if,
behind
that
humor
behind
that
smile,
there's
a
wee
bit
of
sadness
in
their
eyes
or
there's
something
off
with
them
start
to
talk
to
them,
because
if
you
do
that
most
of
the
time
you'll
think
they
don't,
they
won't
talk
to
you
but
they're,
desperate
to
talk
to
you.
So
just
give
them
the
opportunity
and
when
you
do
things
become
easier
for
everybody,
because
the
truth
is.
E
If
you
look
beyond
that
smile
and
confident
face,
and
you
check
for
that
glimpse
of
sadness,
and
you
check
for
that
glimpse
of
depressed
anger
or
frustration,
you
could
find
that
what
you
do
in
the
long
run
is
two
things
one.
Is
you
save
that
life,
but
also
you
create
a
new
one,
because
I'm
a
completely
different
person
from
where
I
was
at
that
time
to
where
I
am
just
now.
E
As
I
say,
I
still
suffer
from
the
same
whatever
you
would
call
it
illnesses
or
whatever,
but
I
know
how
to
cope
with
them
better,
and
I
also
know
I'm
very
fortunate
that
I've
got
people
around
about
me,
and
I
recognize
that
now
in
a
way
that
I
didn't
before.
So
you
you're
not
just
saving
that
life
you're
creating
a
new
one
and
to
have
the
poverty
do.
That
is
incredibly
strong.
It's
an
incredible
thing
to
be
able
to
do,
and
we've
all
got
it
in
us.
E
E
I
think
it
was
ruth,
was
talking
about
that
earlier
on,
just
be
there
for
them,
and
just
let
them
know
that
the
minute
they
want
to
talk
you're
there
to
listen,
and
if
you
do
that,
you're
going
to
find
that
it's
true
enough,
that
all
heroes,
don't
wear
tapes,
because
you
can
save
a
life
just
by
being
that
decent
person,
and
I
think
that
this
is
a
really
important
debate.
It's
it's
always
an
important
debate.
E
It's
an
important
debate
just
now
because
of
what
we've
been
going
through
over
the
last
six
months
and
like
everybody
else,
I've
had
my
down
periods.
If
you
don't
get
to
speak
to
people
then
or
if
you're,
just
in
a
very
small
group,
no
matter
how
happy
that
group
is,
it
does
become
a
bit
frustrating,
but
we've
got
the
opportunity
now
to
come
out.
We
can
communicate
with
others.
E
So
it's
really
important
that
we
have
this
conversation,
that
people
understand
the
necessity
of
looking
out
for
your
your
neighbor,
your
friends,
your
family
and
speak
to
them
and
give
them
the
opportunity,
more
importantly,
to
speak
to
you
when
they
think
they
need
it.
I
want
to
thank
ruth
mcguire
again
for
bringing
it
to
the
chamber
and
they
for
listening
to
my
ramblings
on
this
a
very
important
issue.
Thank
you
very
much.
F
Thank
you
presiding
officer,
and
can
I
begin
by
thanking
james
dornan
for
his
very
personal
and
very
powerful
contribution
and
I'm
sure
his
words
will
echo
across
many
homes,
not
only
in
scotland
but
across
uk,
for
the
very
powerful
sentiments
that
he
expressed
in
presiding
officer.
Every
life
lost
to
suicide
is
one
too
many,
and
I
know
that
this
parliament
is
united
to
prevent
suicide
and
to
improve
the
mental
health
of
scotland's
people
and,
as
one
of
a
number
of
msps,
lodging
a
motion
to
mark
world
suicide
prevention
day.
F
F
F
F
Males
are
three
times
more
likely
than
women
to
die
from
suicide,
especially
men
aged
between
25
and
54.
More
can
and
must
be
done
to
understand
why
these
groups
are
at
greater
risk.
Presiding
officer.
Can,
I
repeat
what
I
said
at
the
beginning
of
my
contribution:
every
life
lost
to
suicide
is
one
too
many.
F
F
G
Thank
you
presiding
officer,
and
my
thanks
to
ruth
maguire
for
bringing
this
important
subject
to
parliament.
Some
years
ago,
I
hosted
an
event
for
the
samaritans
in
the
parliament.
Here
they
were
congratulating
one
of
their
number
for
his
very
long
service
to
the
cause
of
suicide
prevention,
and
I
very
much
admire
the
work
that
the
samaritans
undertake,
but
that
was
unfortunately,
very
far
from
being
my
first
contact
with
the
issue
of
suicide.
G
G
Another
was
one
of
my
female
colleagues
at
the
bank
of
scotland
who
had
had
a
long
history
of
depressive
indus
illness
and
was
in
fact
in
hospital
when
she
escaped
the
close
supervision
that
there
was
for
her
was
able
to
commit
suicide.
Another
was
a
former
colleague
who
had
run
a
very
successful
part
of
our
company
and
went
off
to
start
something
similar
for
his
own
account
elsewhere
and
that
business
failed
and
he
committed
suicide
and
another
was
a
a
friend
and
neighbor
who
just
found
life
too
much.
G
The
details
are
difficult
to
come
to,
and
indeed
when
my
father
bought
his
medical
practice
in
1947,
he
did
so
because
the
previous
gp
had
committed
suicide
and
that
practice
became
available.
That's
something
I
didn't
know
for
many
many
years,
but
what
I
want
to
speak
about
is
a
close
family
member
who
committed
suicide,
and
this
individual
showed
no
sign
whatsoever
of
mental
ill
health
that
the
rest
of
us
detected.
G
G
G
I'm
delighted
to
say,
they've
all
come
through
it
successfully,
but
it
could
have
been
very
much
in
other
ways
now,
as
somebody
who
worked
in
a
psychiatric
hospital
at
the
age
of
17,
death
was
not
unfamiliar
to
me
and
being
with
the
dying,
and
the
dead
was
something
that
I
was
familiar
with,
but
when
it's
this
close
and
this
baffling
because
to
this
day
I
do
not
really
know
by
this
suicide
occurred.
It
tells
you
an
awful
lot
about
the
variety
of
human
thinking
in
human
life.
G
When
you
see
somebody-
and
you
haven't
seen
them
for
a
while-
perhaps
to
somebody
you're
not
very
close
to
just
say,
hi,
don't
say
anything
more,
don't
ask
how
they
are
to
say,
hi
and
see
what
response
you
get
it's
a
good
start
and
if
they
hesitate,
that's
a
warning
sign
to
you.
Listen,
that's
the
main
thing
we
can
do.
Just
listen,
do
what
they
ask
if
they
ask,
but
don't
try
and
guide
people
that
will
often
put
pressure
on
them
that
isn't
helpful
to
them.
G
H
H
This
is
particularly
important
at
this
time
when
we
know
that
the
economic
and
social
consequences
of
the
pandemic
are
putting
significant
additional
strain
on
many
people
I
set
out
in
this
year's
programme
for
government,
we
will
shortly
publish
a
mental
health
transition
and
recovery
plan,
which
sets
out
a
wide
range
of
actions
that
will
take
to
address
those
pressures,
especially
for
more
vulnerable
groups.
However,
today
I'm
particularly
keen
to
join
with
others
to
highlight
current
work
on
suicide
prevention.
H
Last
week
I
took
part
in
activities
to
launch
the
new
united
to
prevent
suicide
campaign
as
referenced
by
mary
fee
and
her
speech.
The
new
branding
and
public
awareness
activity
aims
to
start
a
social
movement
that
helps
build
confidence
to
talk
about
suicide,
and
it
invites
people
to
pledge
their
support
for
the
national
movement
for
change.
H
This
public
awareness
work
is
an
important
element
of
both
our
suicide
prevention
action
plan
and
our
suicide
prevention
response
to
the
pandemic.
The
new
campaign
has
been
funded
by
the
scottish
government
and
is
led
by
our
national
suicide
prevention.
Leadership
group
and
the
leadership
chaired
by
rose
fitzpatrick
was
set
up
to
support
the
delivery
of
the
ten
actions
in
the
scottish
government's
suicide
prevention
action
plan.
Every
life
matters
which
are
launched
in
summer
of
2018..
H
The
leadership
group
reports
to
both
the
scottish
government
and
kosla,
reflecting
the
shared
interest
and
collaboration
needed
in
this
important
area,
and
the
fact
that
the
work
of
the
leadership
group
is
supported
by
a
lived
experienced
panel
of
people
who
have
personal
links
to
suicide
is
key.
They
have
helped
to
shape
and
influence
the
delivery
of
all
the
actions
that
we're
taking
forward
and
I'd
like
to
highlight
a
few
recent
areas
of
focus,
some
of
which
go
wider
than
the
plan.
H
For
example,
we
know
that
those
with
lived
experience
from
those
lived
experience
the
importance
of
ready
support
to
those
in
distress
and
that's
why
our
additional
investment
over
the
pandemic
period,
for
example,
in
making
nhs
24th
mental
health,
help
accessible,
24,
7
and
rolling
out
distress.
Brief
interventions
was
so
vital.
H
We
also
know
the
importance
of
reaching
those
who
work
with
potentially
vulnerable
groups,
so
in
conjunction
with
nhs
education
for
scotland
and
public
health,
scotland,
we've
just
launched
animations,
aimed
at
promoting
mental
health
and
supporting
learning
on
suicide
prevention
and
self-harm
amongst
those
who
work
with
children
and
young
people,
and
these
build
on
those
launched
last
year
for
those
who
work
with
adults
in
mental
health.
Those
with
lived
experience
have
taught
us
that
the
grief
caused
by
suicide
bereavement
is
often
complicated
and
typically
lasts
longer
than
other
types
of
bereavement
and
we're.
H
I
I
I
thank
the
minister
for
giving
way
will
she
also
join
me
in
congratulating
all
the
work
done
by
the
railway
companies
and
network
rail
themselves
in
what
is
a
very
difficult
area
for
them,
because
some
people
choose
to
take
their
lives
on
the
railway
they've
done
this
for
years
and
they're
very
good
at
it.
This
week
in
waverly
station,
I
saw
lots
of
posters
up
because
of
suicide
prevention
week,
clear.
H
Hockey,
I
thank
maureen
what
for
that
intervention,
and
I
would
absolutely
echo
what
she
says.
I
was
fortunate
enough
to
to
go
out
on
the
railways
with
the
railway
chaplain
and
I
think,
two
years
ago,
in
suicide
prevention
week
and
saw
myself
the
work
that
they
do
and
how
important
that
is
and
heard
about
the
support
that
they
give
to
railway
staff
when
they
have
experienced
suicide
or
someone
attempting
suicide
when
they
have
been
at
work.
J
Thank
you.
I
thank
the
minister
for
taking
the
intervention
and
I
do
too
agree
with
maureen
what
about
the
question.
The
work
that
the
railways
do
has
happened
many
times
and
I
think
it's
brilliant
what
they
do
and
how
they
get
over
it
and
how
and
training
their
staff
can
I
come
to
veterans,
armed
forces
veterans,
that's
a
passion
of
mine.
J
What
are
you
doing
to
link
your
plans
to
the
veterans
and
where
you
can
obviously
glean
some
information
and
help
and
support
and
advice
from
the
veterans
side,
because
I
know
it's
a
lot
of
work,
we're
doing
on
that
and
we're
obviously
very
very
keenly
watching.
What's
going
to
happen
at
the
end
of
the
covert
period.
H
But
we
are
mindful
that
there
are
some
sections
of
our
society
who
are
more
vulnerable
to
mental
illness
through
the
past
experiences,
but
also
more
vulnerable
to
experiencing
suicidal
thoughts.
So
we
and
the
suicide
prevention
leadership
group
are
very
mindful
of
that.
A
new
strategy
will
look
beyond
mental
health,
to
the
specific
drivers
for
suicide,
including
feelings
of
isolation,
entrapment
and
loneliness,
and,
as
the
leadership
group's
recent
statement
acknowledges,
the
scottish
government
is
already
taking
action
across
a
range
of
areas
that
will
contribute
to
suicide
prevention.
H
H
I
know
that
there
are
many
of
them
and
that
their
work
across
scotland
does
save
lives,
and
I
want
them
to
know
that
they
have
my
support
and
sincere
thanks
for
all
they
do.
If
I
may,
president
officer
before
I
sum
up
just
answer,
some
of
the
points
that
have
been
raised
and
by
some
of
the
members
across
the
chamber
and
both
emma
harper
and
mary
fee
asked
about
statistics.
H
Nrs
are
aiming
to
publish
the
delayed
suicide
statistics
in
november
2020,
and
I
acknowledge
we
do
need
to
have
data
to
drive
forward
change
and
actions
that
we
want
to
put
in
place.
I
congratulated
ruth
mcguire
for
bringing
this
really
important
debate
to
chamber
and
I
think
there
have
been
some
very
thoughtful
and
measured
contributions,
including
some
very
personal
experiences
from
stuart
stevenson
and
brian
whittle.
H
Our
work
on
suicide
prevention
recognises
that
it's
not
just
an
issue
for
the
scottish
government,
nor
just
an
issue
for
the
nhs
it's
an
issue
that
requires
collaboration
across
all
sectors
of
life
in
scotland,
and
I
would
again
urge
members
to
sign
up
to
show
their
support
to
the
united
to
prevent
suicide
movement
and
to
raise
awareness
of
suicide
and
how
we
talk
about
it.
By
having
these
conversations
and
being
open,
we
can
help
to
save
lives.