Question reference: S5O-04622
- Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 16 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 23 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that suicide prevention support services are still available to people in light of the recent lockdown measures.
Answer
As part of our suicide prevention response to the pandemic we are working with our National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) to ensure we have effective support for those in suicidal crisis. This involves close partnership with COSLA and third sector bodies which provide support and we have accepted all the recommendations in the NSPLG’s recent Covid statement.
We know from those with lived experience the importance of ready support for those at risk of suicide. That is why our additional investment over the pandemic period, for example, in making the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and rolling out Distress Brief Intervention, was so vital.