The Scottish Prison Service has set out a “bold and compassionate” vision for supporting people in custody.
Commitment to Change: Suicide Prevention Pathway in Scottish prisons outlines how SPS are overhauling Talk To Me (TTM), While TTM operates primarily as a crisis response the new approach will see suicide prevention as a part of keeping people well, not just responding when things go wrong.
It will ensure people in custody in Scotland have greater personal agency to keep them safe, healthy, and supported.
Neil Mathers, Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, described the new policy as “compassionate, person-centred and rooted in hope”.
It has been designed in tandem with the recommendations of Professor Graham Towl’s independent review of TTM, which SPS is publishing today, alongside the Commitment to Change report, and informed by people in custody, the staff who support them every day, and partners, families, and healthcare teams.
All of Professor Towl’s recommendations will be carefully considered to ensure the actions taken best support the safety and wellbeing of those in SPS care.
Its name is currently being decided through consultation with staff and people in custody and will be announced in due course.
Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said: “We have a population in our care which is extremely complex, with many different experiences of trauma, mental health challenges, and other life experiences, which require care and support.
“We are committed to creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected and safe. This means putting compassion at the core of everything we do; providing safety with compassion; delivering person-centred care; and ensuring that all individuals feel hope and connection.
“Our promise is simple: every life matters and every person in our care deserves compassion, safety, and hope.”
Mr Mathers, who co-chaired the Short-Term reference group, added: “Too many lives are lost to suicide in Scottish prisons and existing efforts to keep people safe have failed. We know urgent change is needed so that the right support is there for anyone in suicidal distress.
“Every day in our prisons, Samaritans trained Listeners offer peer support to anyone struggling to cope. People need to be heard, understood, and supported to feel safe.
“The new approach set out in Commitment to Change was developed through honest collaboration between those working within the prison system, and the organisations that support prisoners and their families.
“I welcome the clear intent to transform how we support people in suicidal crisis across Scotland’s prisons. It represents a real shift towards an approach that is compassionate, person-centred and rooted in hope.
“The challenge now is to turn this ambition into action, and to ensure that this change is felt in every prison. There is much work to be done, but Samaritans Scotland is ready to play our part in making this happen.”
The SPS recognises that such a transformative change will not be a quick fix, and that whole-system change will require support for staff, close collaboration with partners, and the voice and trust of those in our care.
The approach SPS will deliver will be grouped into four areas – prevent, respond, support, and innovate.
This will include identifying and acting upon early warning signs; delivering rapid crisis interventions when someone is at acute risk; strengthening communication and coordination, so individuals feel safe and supported; and developing practical solutions, including using technology, to make support easier and more effective.
The Commitment to Change: Suicide Prevention Pathway in Scottish prisons and the Independent Review Report are available on the SPS website here.