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Creating Hope with Peer Support: 3 years of peer power in suicide prevention

A new report has been published marking the first three years of the Creating Hope with Peer Support suicide prevention project.

Creating Hope with Peer Support is a national project led by Scottish Recovery Network. We partner with people and communities across the country to focus on embedding peer support as a vital part of suicide prevention. It’s a key part of the Scottish Government’s Creating Hope Together 10-year strategic vision for Scotland.

The report was launched by Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing and Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care. Both took part in a panel conversation at the project’s national event in Stirling, where ‘Curious Listeners’ fed back insights from participants and the panel explored what is needed to grow peer support in Scotland.

Whilst the Creating Hope with Peer Support project facilitates workshops and supports learning, providing resources and amplifying lived experience, it is the people we work with who drive real change: peer workers, groups, organisations and services across the country.

(My highlight was) connecting and hearing from peer groups, experiences and thinking about local opportunities to support and embed peer support. -Learning and networking participant

Throughout the report we draw on reflections, stories and feedback from participants and partners. Insights from our evaluation with Matter of Focus help us understand the project’s impact and future direction. Together this learning shows not only what the project has achieved so far but also the potential for peer support to transform suicide prevention across Scotland.