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.