The University of Strathclyde has launched a pioneering Suicide Prevention Strategy reinforcing its commitment to being a ‘safe place of useful learning’ for students and staff.
The comprehensive strategy aims to build a suicide-safer university community by embedding prevention into everyday life, addressing stigma, and ensuring timely support for anyone experiencing distress or bereavement related to suicide.
Strathclyde is the first university in Scotland to establish a full-time Suicide Prevention Project Coordinator role within a university setting.
Bold approach
Suicide and self-harm thoughts and behaviours are globally recognised as significant public health concerns. Scotland has the highest suicide rate in the UK – with 792 deaths by suicide in 2023 – making it the biggest cause of death in young adults in the country.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde, said:
“We are taking a bold approach to suicide prevention, because we recognise the devastating impact suicide has on individuals, families, and communities.
“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.
This strategy is not just about policy; it is about people.
"Through partnership, compassion and evidence-based action, we are committed to nurturing a flourishing and mentally healthy university environment.”
Embedding compassion
Guided by the principles of Time, Space, Compassion, the five-year strategy has been co-produced with students and staff, with lived and living experience placed at its core. It aligns closely with Scotland’s national suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together 2022–2032, and is supported by an External Advisory Group made up of representatives from COSLA, National Health Service, Public Health Scotland, Universities, Colleges and others.
The strategy outlines four strategic priorities:
- Capacity Building – empowering the University community through training, lived and living experience and awareness raising
- Communication – creating a culture of openness around suicide and mental health
- Safety and Support – ensuring immediate and compassionate help is accessible
- Continuous Improvement – monitoring and developing the strategy based on research and evaluation
The University also co-chairs with COSLA a national network for suicide prevention in colleges and universities, further reinforcing its position at the forefront of the sector.
Tony Kane, the University’s suicide prevention coordinator, said: “This strategy represents a turning point in how we talk about, understand and respond to suicide within higher education. By embedding compassion, lived and living experience and evidence into every part of our approach, we are making suicide prevention a shared responsibility – one that is woven into the everyday life of our university community.”
Safeguarding framework
Scott, a student with lived and living experience who helped shape the strategy, said: “Sharing my story gave me hope that we can build a culture where people feel safe to ask for help.
Strathclyde’s approach is not only compassionate but genuinely life-saving.
The Strategy sits within Strathclyde’s wider Safe 360o safeguarding framework which brings together national guidance with University policies and procedures and promotes support for the diverse community of students, staff and anyone involved in University activity.
Strathclyde already has a number of initiatives in place to support mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, including employing the ‘Ask, Tell, Respond’ learning resource developed by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and NHS Education Scotland (NES); the creation of an award-winning Early Intervention Team offering risk-assessments within 24 hours to students who seek out help; and on-campus ‘Safe Space’ sessions for staff and students facilitated by The Canmore Trust for anyone who has been impacted by suicide at any point in their lives.