“In an increasingly turbulent economic climate, people need the support of frontline services like Samaritans all the way down to local community services that outreach to the most rural areas of Scotland.” – Joel Borseth
It’s a new year, and many people will think of a fresh start, a clean slate, and they may have some personal goals they’ve set for the year ahead. Whether they last longer than January is a different story. But this year, there’s a renewed opportunity for Scotland, and the people who call it home. A chance that we at Samaritans want to take with both hands.
When politicians and parties bring their manifestos to the people of Scotland, with promises of a brighter future ahead, what kind of difference is really possible?
The kind that saves lives.
Life can be wonderful. Life can be tough. Relationships. Work. Money. Loneliness. Mental health. Self-harm. We can all struggle. Any place. Any time. One in four of us have had suicidal thoughts.
Suicide is often viewed as a health issue only – but this isn’t the way we need to look at suicide to be able to save lives. Suicide is complex, and often suicidal feelings arise from a multitude of factors rather than one single issue. The next Scottish Government needs to treat suicide in the same way.
We need to do more to help people before they reach crisis point. Suicide prevention needs to be embedded across government policy, from social care to finance to employment.
We recently launched our manifesto, ‘Five Priorities to Save Lives’ ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May this year. We’re asking the next Scottish government to make prevention a priority.
Our asks are based on research and evidence, and on the insight of people with lived and living experience of suicide. If delivered, we believe that it we will begin to see a fairer, more compassionate Scotland where fewer lives are lost to suicide.
Our five priorities to save lives:
· Increase funding for frontline mental health services
· Deliver a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland
· End harmful stigma through workforce training
· Increase support for people in prison
· Increase resourcing for community services
At the heart of our manifesto is our Lived Experience Advisory Group. This group of people come together with us to share their insights and perspectives as people with lived or living experiences related to suicide or bereavement by suicide.
Joel Borseth, one of the group members, shared why these five asks are fundamental in helping others through suicidal crisis and into recovery: “As an individual who has had Lived Experience of crisis, mental health services – both in the local community and from frontline services – played a pivotal role in not just my recovery, but in enabling me to see my own worth in supporting others on their journey to recovery.
“Committing to provide more funds to mental health services, both within the NHS and other national to local services, can enable some individuals, such as myself, to not just to have a better mental wellbeing, but to ‘pass on’ that support to other individuals both in a volunteer and employed setting.
“It is with this experience and confidence that I am able to contribute to the Lived Experience Advisory Group at Samaritans Scotland.
“If I had not had support from these services at the right time over ten years ago, I would have never been able to contribute to society and likely continued to struggle with my wellbeing for many years.
“In an increasingly turbulent economic climate, people need the support of frontline services like Samaritans all the way down to local community services that outreach to the most rural areas of Scotland.
“For myself, it was just one simple conversation from that made me believe I could have positive life experiences twelve years ago again that changed everything for the better.
“I know that I have provided similar moments for others in their journey to recovery. Funding for mental health services does not vanish into a void – people like me can change their whole lives around from the support this funding provides.”
Join us in calling for the next Scottish Government to make suicide prevention a priority.
Visit www.samaritans.org/manifesto for more information and how to contact your local candidate.
Donate to Samaritans | Donations | Samaritans Charity Donations