The team behind a suicide prevention app that supports people across the North-east has taken double honours at the Scottish Health Awards 2017.
The Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Choose Life Steering Group was selected as a finalist in two categories of the awards, hosted by the Scottish Government and held at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Thursday, November 2.
And the group was named as winner of both the Innovation Award and Care for Mental Health Award, in recognition of its digital approach to reaching vulnerable people.
Having identified specific trends relating to suicide in the north-east, the Choose Life steering group developed a strong digital presence through the Prevent Suicide North East Scotland smartphone app and supporting website.
A social media campaign, heavily supported by families affected by suicide, helped draw attention to the app, which has been used more than 23,000 times since its launch. Last year, the group was encouraged to see a 29% reduction in the number of suicides in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire compared with the previous year.
Iain Murray, Choose Life co-ordinator for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, hopes the awards win will help make even more people aware of the group’s work.
“It’s huge recognition for everyone who works tirelessly in the north east of Scotland in suicide prevention to have seen success in two categories of these prestigious awards, said Iain.
“Our Choose Life Steering Group is a collaborative team who determine how best we should focus our joint efforts and our digital work, which has been acknowledged by the judging panel, came about through this close network.
“We created the Prevent Suicide North East Scotland smartphone app and supporting website in direct response to specific trends being identified, and ran a high-profile campaign to promote it.
“There was a 29% reduction in the number of suicides in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire in 2016 compared with the previous year and I firmly believe that our digital work is having a positive impact in this regard.”
Choose Life North East Scotland is a collaboration between Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian, Police Scotland, Cruse Bereavement Care and the Samaritans.
The Prevent Suicide app provides users with access to immediate support at times of need, encouraging the creation of a personal ‘safety plan’ to help identify warning signs and develop coping strategies.
The app also provides advice and support to those worried about somebody else, and to those who have been directly affected by suicide.
The associated website holds a range of resources, news articles, training information and other resources for those facing mental health difficulties, and for those who support them.
If you, or somebody you know, is feeling suicidal or are worried about somebody else, visit www.chooselife.net or download the Prevent Suicide NE Scotland app on your smartphone.