Suicide Prevention  United to Prevent Suicide logo

If you or someone that you know is thinking about suicide then help is available.

Call 999 if someone is at immediate risk of suicide and don't leave them alone.

Resources

For further information on support available click here or take a look at the resources below:

Safety Planning 

A safety plan is a tool for helping someone navigate suicidal feelings and urges. It’s never too early to start to think about making a safety plan with a someone you may have concerns about.

If possible try to make a safety plan when in the individual is calm and not in crisis. To be effective, a safety plan needs to feel do-able and be focused on that person's needs. There are various online safety planning tools:

Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention

There are three areas for action that you can take to help prevent suicide:

  • Actions to look after your mental health
  • Actions to support others
  • Actions to challenge stigma

Individuals, groups and organisations are taking action in one or more of these areas to make the Scottish Borders a suicide safer community. 

Actions to look after your mental health

Anyone can be at risk of suicide, but there are things that we can do to look after our mental health and wellbeing that might make thoughts of suicide less likely or that can help us to cope if we're experiencing suicidal thoughts. 

This video has practical advise about understanding mental health and how you can keep mentally healthy: Ask, Tell - Look After Your Mental Health.

Actions to support others

Our suicide ALERT resources support you to have a conversation with someone that might be thinking about suicide. You can also attend suicide prevention training locally - take a look at our Informed Level and Skilled Level learning opportunities.

This video has information about how to have a compassionate conversation with people who may be experiencing mental distress or who are at risk of suicide: Ask, Tell - Have a Healthy Conversation.

Action to tackle stigma

This video has information about the facts when it comes to suicide in Scotland and being aware of these can help you in challenging stigma around talking about suicide: Ask, Tell - Save a Life: Every Life Matters.

You can also pledge your support to the national United to Prevent Suicide campaign - add your name to Scotland's suicide prevention story at www.unitedtopreventsuicide.org.uk 

You can find out more about work to support rugby clubs in the Scottish Borders to improve mental health and prevent suicide in this infographic or watch the video below:

Borders Rugby Clubs: Tackling the stigma around suicide from Kelso RFC on Vimeo.