Following the publication of Health and Community Care Research Findings No. 60/2008, what practical steps it proposes to take to improve s…

The research on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviour was commissioned by the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government is currently considering this research''s recommendations for future research and practice, in line with of our continuing commitment to base suicide prevention and interventions on the best evidence base.
Choose Life is Scotland''s national suicide prevention strategy and action plan and suicide prevention is a cornerstone of the Scottish Government''s action on population mental health improvement. The Choose Life national implementation support team will lead on acting on these research findings to improve suicide prevention measures, linking with national and local partners. The research''s findings were distributed directly through local Choose Life co-ordinators and suicide prevention trainer networks, as well as being promoted through the Choose Life newsletter network and website.
Our 2008-09 HEAT targets include a target to reduce suicide rates between 2002 and 2013 by 20%, supported by 50% of key frontline staff in mental health and substance misuse services, primary care, and accident and emergency being educated and trained in using suicide assessment tools/suicide prevention training programmes by 2010.
We are also focusing on building local capacity in suicide prevention, in response to local needs and underpinned by a focus on tackling inequalities.