Latest News
Welcome to the Latest News Page
In this section we will provide info on:
- Recent news
- Social Media links and relevant posts
- The latest app stats
- Annual national data
- Videos with useful information
- Local and national resources
If you need help now head to our Urgent Help page or you can find local services in your area here.
Suicide Prevention Scotland Creating Hope Together Podcasts
The official Suicide Prevention Scotland podcast channel features engaging conversations about a range of different themes, listen to the latest podcast "Creating Hope - Bereavement" or any of the others by following this link.
United to Prevention Suicide Update
The team at United to Prevent Suicide has launched new opportunities, to get involved in the Scotland's social movement to prevent suicide, follow this link.
Launch of Suicide Prevention Scotland Website and Resource Directory
Scotland’s new suicide‑prevention campaign, shaped by lived experience, asks: “Could a conversation save a life?”
A new website with various resources including four personal letters from contributors with deeply personal experiences aims to spark the nation’s biggest dialogue on suicide.
www.suicideprevention.scot/whatif/campaign-media-release-16-04-2025
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuicidePreventionScotland
X: https://x.com/SuicidePrevScot
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/suicidepreventionscotland
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cruZ_svP3FE
Youtube channel:- https://www.youtube.com/@suicideprevscot
Suicide Prevention Training
We're delighted that even more people have become part of Suicide Prevention here in Aberdeenshire, thanks to the work of our community engagement officer, Brian.
He recently visited an impressive 7 CALA Homes sites including Banchory, Milltimber, Westhill, Bucksburn, Mugiemoss and Bridge of Don plus the HQ in Westhill.
160 members of CALA staff and subcontractors attended Introduction to Suicide Prevention Sessions, enabling them how to have conversations surrounding suicide whilst safeguarding themselves.
Research shows that mental health can be challenging when working in the male dominated construction industry, with high levels of stress and anxiety reported. We're incredibly proud to have played our part in building better mental health, one training session at a time. It's by equipping people with the knowledge needed, that we can ultimately save lives and make suicide everyone's business.
Resources Page
Explore our newly added resources page, featuring useful local and national documentation
You can visit our Resources page here.
Suicide Prevention Week 2024
Following Suicide Prevention Week 2024, we have a number of resources to share. These include a statement from SAMH Chief Executive Billy Watson, along with two episodes from the SHMU In Focus podcast.
We hope these resources encourage important conversations and support those impacted by mental health challenges.
Article from SAMH Chief Executive Billy Watson
SHMU In focus Podcast Suicide Prevention Week – Men’s Mental Health
With contributions from the North East Suicide Prevention Team, Men in Mind and Changing Room project
SHMU In Focus podcast Suicide Prevention Week Women’s Mental Health
With contributions from North East Suicide Prevention Team and Latnem.
Social Media Page
Our Social Media page has recently been expanded to highlight recent posts from our team, along with links to our Facebook and Instagram pages.
You can visit our Social Media page here.
Oil and Gas Workers Session
It was an early start for our community engagement officer, Brian Johnston, who delivered a session to oil & gas workers prior to their working day.
More than 50 people attended the session, where Brian covered all things suicide prevention.
We are incredibly proud that we have been able to be part of the conversation in an industry where mental health was once seldom talked about.
The session comes as part of an exciting new project, which will see us take suicide prevention into the workplace. Ultimately we're about people, we want to meet you where you're at. Stay tuned to find out why working with employers is the next big step in saving lives
National Farmers Union Session
At the core of suicide prevention is the determination to save lives. That will never change, but the way in which our fantastic community engagement officers reach out, will vary between different communities.
We work with the lay of the land, and in the case of beautiful Aberdeenshire, this means understanding the role which mental health plays within farming communities.
We know that so many factors come into play, from financial worries to routinely working alone, generational stigma and prevailing myths about mental health in general. That's why we were absolutely delighted to collaborate with NFU Scotland, and delivered an introduction to suicide prevention session at Thainstone.
Our community engagement officers, Brian and Mike, worked with farmers to not only share a life saving message, but to increase knowledge, myth bust and so much more. There's already been some fantastic feedback, and we're so proud to have been involved.
Thank you to everyone who came along, including Sandy from Men United SCIO. When we work together, we can achieve great things.
International Women’s Day
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our International Women's Day event in March
The feedback has been so lovely to hear, and it was brilliant to see so many people coming together to discuss women's mental health and suicide prevention.
Cllr Judy Whyte - Inverurie and District , who is of course Provost of Aberdeenshire, came along and met some members of the north-east suicide prevention team, alongside our fantastic speakers.
Our topics on the day included
- Mental health & motherhood
- Trauma informed approach to wellbeing
- Perimenopause & menopause
- Lived experience and recovery from depression
- Support available for women's mental health
Thank you to Latnem , Home-Start Aberdeen , Mikeysline , Penumbra Aberdeenshire , WhitesideWellbeing , Helen the Menopause Pharmacist , and Grow Free with Emma B , alongside RapeCrisis Grampian and Samaritans who helped to make the day such a success.
The conversation doesn't stop here, as our community engagement officers continue to raise awareness, provide training and break down stigma one day at a time.
Read more about Keeping women and girls safe this International Women’s Day