Glasgow Caledonian is committed to ensuring that our university community is supported through a whole university approach. Tailored mental health and wellbeing support for suicide prevention and response are essential aspects of our overall approach to safeguarding the wellbeing of our students.
Here you will find information on GCU’s Policy, Guidance and Prevention, Intervention and Postvention projects. If you have any questions or would like to contribute to our ongoing areas of work, please get in touch.
If you are looking for support do not try to cope alone.
Prevention, Intervention and Response Policy
arrow_forward
Universities UK and Papyrus published guidance to support universities in developing their approach on preventing, intervening, and responding to suicide, as part of their overall mental health framework.
In 2024 Glasgow Caledonian approved the Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Response Policy, which aligns with this guidance. The policy has also been informed by The University Mental Health Charter, Thriving Learners' Survey, and the Scottish Government's Suicide Prevention Strategy and input from key partners. This policy is reviewed annually with progress against planned developments reported via the annual Wellbeing and Mental Health reports to the People Committee and the Learning Enhancement Sub Committee.
Suspected Student Suicide Response Team (SRT)
arrow_forward
The Suspected Student Suicide Response Team (SRT) is a pre-identified group of people who have been selected on the basis of their role, responsibilities and competences. In the event of a suspected or confirmed student death by suicide, the SRT will be mobilised to oversee and co-ordinate all immediate and urgent key activities related to the Institutional response. The team is chaired by the Vice-Principal People and Student Wellbeing and receive regular training.
Strategic Approach
arrow_forward
The Student Mental Health Action Plan (SMHAP) contains further detail of our suicide prevention and response work and is updated regularly as part of our ongoing partnership with Student Minds and our continued University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) accreditation. The SMHAP is overseen by the Student Wellbeing Advisory Group, reporting to the University Executive Group, the People Committee, and our Learning Enhancement Sub Committee.
Areas of work from the plan are outlined on the Connected Intranet page.
The university recognises the importance of partnership working in suicide prevention and response and is committed to building on our existing relationships with local community mental health providers and services. These include the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), the National Health Service (NHS), local council and social support services in the ongoing development and review of its approach. Our work is also informed by our involvement in the UMHC and the sharing of good practice across the sector.
Understanding suicide: the importance of language, and definitions
arrow_forward
The reasons for suicide are often complex and individual. However, there are a number of factors which may predispose individuals to a higher risk of suicide. Research published in the guidance from Universities UK
Serious (suicidal) self-harm Exposure to suicide and serious self-harm (contagion) Relationship or family issues, breakdowns in social support networks Transitions between mental health services Alcohol and/or drug misuse Those who have experienced trauma or abuse Asylum seekers and refugees are exposed to several experiences which are linked to an increased suicide risk Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) young people exhibit more suicidal behaviour than those who do not identify at LGBTQ+ Male students are more than twice as likely to take their own lives as female students It is essential to break down stigma around suicide and encourage people needing support to seek it. It is equally important that community members understand the evidence around suicide and are able to challenge misconceptions.
Important Definitions
arrow_forward
Below are important definitions for key terms related to suicide, from Universities UK.
Suicide Deliberate act of taking of one’s life.
Suicide attempt
A suicide attempt is a deliberate action undertaken with at least some wish to die as a result of the act. The degree of suicidal 'intent' may vary and may not be related to the lethality of the attempt. Suicidal feelings
Suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts can range from being preoccupied by having abstract thoughts or rumination about ending one’s own life, or feeling that people would be better off without you, to thinking about methods of suicide, or making clear plans to take one’s own life.
Suicidal behaviours A range of behaviours related to suicide and self-harm in vulnerable individuals, including suicidal thinking, deliberate recklessness and risk-taking, self-harming not aimed at causing death and suicide attempts. Around 20% of young people have self-harmed (non-suicidal) by the age of 20, far fewer around 2-3%) make suicide attempts. Self-harm non-suicidal intent An action that is deliberate but does not include an intention to die and often does not result in hospital care. It can be used for one or more reasons that relate to reducing distress and tension, inflicting self-punishment and/or signalling personal distress to important others. Non-suicidal self-harm is a signal of underlying mental health difficulties; self-harm is a strong predictor of future suicide risk; people who self-harm may also make suicide attempts and be at risk of suicide.
Cluster A cluster is three or more deaths that occur unexpectedly closely in terms of time, place, or both. In a university setting, two suicides occurring close to each other may indicate a cluster and should be taken very seriously.
Contagion Death by suicide may trigger suicidal thoughts and feelings in some other individuals and may increase their risk. This is also known as suicide contagion and may lead to a cluster. Likewise, reporting of suicide methods or locations may promote use of those methods by others.
Misconceptions
arrow_forward
Below are misconceptions around suicide, alongside important definitions, from the Samaritans Resource: Myths about Suicide and the Universities UK Guidance: Suicide Safer Universities .
"Talking about suicide can create, or worsen risk"
Suicide is a stigmatised topic and can be taboo. By asking someone directly about suicide, you give them permission to tell you how they feel. People who have felt suicidal will often say what a huge relief it was to be able to talk about what they were experiencing. How we talk about suicide is important, we should make sure not to use words that stigmatise or criminalise suicide, for example "committing suicide," "successful/ unsuccessful suicide" or "they aren't the suicidal type."
More information for language around suicide can be found at:
Mind your C's and S's: The Language of Self Harm and Suicide and why it matters
Appendix 3, page 29 of the Universities UK Suicide Safer Universities Framework
Once someone starts talking, they have a better chance of discovering options that are not suicide. Asking someone about suicide does not create or worsen risk.
"People who talk about suicide aren't serious and won't go through with it" Research has shown that individuals who die by suicide have often expressed suicidal feelings or ideation to those around them. This may be through phrases which are direct, or those which hold the implication – e.g., having no future, or life not being worth it.
Individuals who express suicidal feelings or thoughts should be treated with empathy and compassion.
It is important to always take someone seriously if they talk about feeling suicidal. Helping them get the support they need could save their life.
"Most suicides happen without warning"
Most suicides are preceded by warning signs . These may be verbal or behavioural. It is important that individuals are able to confidently identify indications of suicidal thoughts and behavioural signs."If a person is serious about killing themselves then there's nothing you can do." Most individuals who are feeling suicidal do not want to die, but rather do not want to live in their current experience of life . The distinction may seem small but is very important. It is why talking through other options at the right time is so vital. Often, feeling actively suicidal is temporary and this is why it is essential individuals are able to access crisis support.
"You have to be mentally ill to think about suicide" 1 in 5 people have thought about suicide at some time in their life, and this number increases to nearly 1 in 4 young people. Not all people who die by suicide have mental health problems at the time they die. Most people who complete suicide are not known to mental health services. This highlights the need to dismantle mental health stigma and barriers to care and create a compassionate community.
