Choose Life: Early experiences of implementing Scotland's suicide prevention strategy

Scotland has developed a national suicide prevention strategy, Choose Life, as part of a wider programme of mental health promotion and mental illness prevention. This paper reports findings from a survey of Choose Life co-ordinators, who are based in each local authority area and supported by a central team. The survey sought their views on progress, and achieved an 85% response rate. Co-ordinators identified challenges in promoting suicide prevention in a policy-rich environment with many competing priorities, in persuading local agencies to provide mainstream rather than project funds, and in keeping up-to-date with national and international research findings. The responses by the national team to these identified challenges are outlined.