Suicide Prevention: A hard conversation worth having A series of free Lawscot Wellbeing events

Suicide can be a difficult topic to speak about, but mental health organisations and leading research agrees that talking about it is one of the most important keys to suicide prevention.

If you need help now, you can call Samaritans free of charge at any time of the day or night on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or access a self-help app at samaritans.org. LawCare also offers a dedicated free support service during business hours for anyone working in the legal sector. You can call them during business hours on 0800 279 6888, or access their online chat function Tuesday-Friday during business hours.

In an update from their session in 2022, the Lawscot Wellbeing Team caught up with Nicola Rylatt and James McFarlane to discuss suicide prevention. The conversations focus on the 2023 theme of Suicide Prevention Day “Creating Hope through Action – You can be the light.” 

In conversation, Nicola Rylatt and Lou Murphy discuss the signs of suicidal ideation and how conversations about mental wellbeing can be a preventative measure. They touch on the business case for employers to consider how they approach wellbeing as well as mental health training and the importance of self-care.

In conversation, James McFarlane and Darren Kerr discuss the anniversary of the Men's Wellbeing Group and what James has learned over the last year. They talk about the role of a Mental Health First Aider and the support available from LawCare.

In this conversation, we hear about supporting people who are at risk of suicide, the impacts of being affected by suicide, addiction and ways to seek help.

Nicola Rylatt speaks from personal experience, after her husband Chris died by suicide in 2017. Nicola is a member of our Lawscot Wellbeing Steering Group and a passionate advocate for mental health support.

Nicola is joined by James McFarlane, who founded the Men’s Wellbeing Group, which aims to connect men in the Scottish legal profession so there’s a place to have a chat. The group also aims to end the stigma around mental health, especially for men.

Please note this video is password protected for our members. If you'd like to watch the recording, please email wellbeing@lawscot.org.uk and let us know your membership ID. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Professor Rory O’Connor is one of the leading minds in suicide prevention, and is known for his deep psychological analysis of suicide, but also his personable and simple approach to one of life’s most complex and sensitive topics.

His recent book When It Is Darkest: Why people die by suicide and what we can do to prevent it draws on decades of work in the field of suicide prevention and research, and untangles the complex reasons behind suicide and dispels any unhelpful myths.

Rory is a Professor of Health Psychology and Director of the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory at the University of Glasgow. He is also a President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and Co-Chair of the Academic Advisory Group to the Scottish Government's Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. You can read his full biography here.

In this session Olivia Moore, Careers & Wellbeing Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, speaks to Rory about his career and what lessons he can share with us all about understanding suicide and supporting those who are at risk of suicide in order to prevent it.

Chris’s House stands for Centre of Help, Response and Intervention Surrounding Suicide. Anne set up the centre in memory of her son Chris, who she lost to suicide in 2011 when he was 36.

The centre has been set up to offer a safe environment where people in suicidal crisis or approaching it can have a safe place to go for professional support. Anne is joined in her mission to help bring awareness to mental ill health by more than 60 volunteers. Each has been touched in some way by suicide and understand the ongoing ripple effects that it has on family, friends and the community.

In this session Darren Kerr, Head of Careers & Outreach at the Law Society of Scotland, talks to Anne about the work of Chris’ House, the importance of support from friends, family and colleagues, services in Scotland and some of the myths and facts surrounding suicide.