The multi-agency ‘After a Suicide’ project is a partnership of Highland charities including Mikeysline, Change Mental Health and James Support Group, collaborating with NHS Highland, Police Scotland, Highland Council and others with an interest in and/or providing mental health, suicide prevention and bereavement support in Highland.
With a focus on the delivery of timely, compassionate, supportive and effective responses for both those bereaved and those impacted by a suicide, the aim of the project is to minimise wider suicide risk and improve mental health outcomes for individuals bereaved by suicide, whilst tackling stigma and signposting to support available.
Guidance and resources were produced including a pack for those bereaved by suicide; a leaflet to raise awareness of the impact of suicide on anyone; plus a suite of films with powerful and emotive lived experience stories focusing on postvention, bereavement, stigma and impact. These were spotlighted at events across Highland for communities and since at Scotland wide forums.
We include the links to these films below along with guidance notes aimed at both adults and young people if showing to a group of people in schools or at wider awareness events.
Our project continues to evolve with more agencies interested in the resources produced across Scotland and a further film currently being developed, so our aim to continue the conversation around suicide, continues..
