Suicide Prevention StrategyPrincipal's Introduction
A word from Professor Sir Jim McDonald
At the University of Strathclyde, we strive to innovate and build upon our founding mission as ‘a place of useful learning’. As part of this, we must strengthen our collective efforts to make this a ‘safe place of useful learning’ too, one that places the wellbeing of everyone in our University at its heart.
Our community has been impacted by suicide. That’s why we’ve developed a strategy aimed at both staff and students to address this public health concern.
Our first step toward achieving this goal has been to appoint a full-time Suicide Prevention Project Coordinator - the first post of its kind within Higher Education in Scotland.
We will be bold in our approach to mental health and suicide prevention and nurture a mentally healthy and flourishing community. This vital work sits within our wider safe 360 safeguarding framework and further demonstrates our strategic commitment to being a ‘people first’ institution.
Suicide impacts all of us at some point in our lives, whether on a personal level or at a distance. That’s why we consider suicide prevention to be a shared responsibility. It is ‘everyone’s business’.
To achieve our strategic aims, we have established strong and sustainable links with the Scottish Government, the National Health Service (NHS), Public Health Scotland (PHS), Universities, Colleges, and a range of external organisations.
A core component of our strategy development has been to establish an External Advisory Group with these partners. The expertise of this group has ensured that our strategy is both open to scrutiny and closely aligned to Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy ‘Creating Hope Together 2022-2032’, fulfilling our commitment as a socially progressive institution.
Our long-term commitment will address organisational challenges and bridge the ‘implementation gap’ that often exists in strategy delivery. By placing the theme of ‘Time, Space, Compassion’ at the centre of our efforts, we can move forward together to become a safer and more connected community.
My final message is to encourage you to seek support if you are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts or a suicidal crisis. Please ask for support, and please know that there is help available.