Request 101004022474

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), I would like to request the following information relating to suicide prevention education in schools within your local authority.

For the 2024/25 academic year, please provide:

1. Whether suicide prevention education is provided in each local authority secondary school. If possible, please provide a list of schools and confirm whether they deliver suicide prevention education.

2. Whether suicide prevention education is mandatory for all pupils, or delivered only in certain year groups, classes or circumstances.

3. The number of pupils who received suicide prevention education during the 2024/25 academic year.

4. The number of teachers and/or school staff who completed suicide prevention training during the 2024/25 academic year.

Response 28-07-2026

1. The local authority makes suicide prevention programmes and resources available to all secondary schools (Forres Academy, Elgin Academy, Elgin High, Lossiemouth High, Milne’s Primary, Buckie Community High School, Keith Grammar School and Speyside School) and schools can also access additional support through organisations such as SAMH. However, the local authority does not centrally record whether individual schools deliver these programmes. Due to the school holiday period, we have been unable to obtain confirmation from individual schools regarding current delivery arrangements. Therefore, we are unable to provide a school-by-school breakdown. 

   SAMH Suicide Prevention Team are jointly commissioned by Moray and Aberdeen City to raise awareness of suicide prevention, to deliver training and support each area to deliver Suicide Prevention and post suicide support. Part of their role includes working with Children Services in Moray to explore the concept of suicide safer school communities with pilot work taking place in  24 - 25 in Elgin Academy and Lossiemouth High School.  The Introduction to Youth Suicide Prevention training was offered to teachers and parents in these schools Elgin and in Lossie and pilot session was explored with pupils with 60 young people taking part.  The annual mental wellbeing event hosted by Speyside High school was attended and an awareness stall provided for pupils and teachers to engage. All Child Protection Officers within Secondary Schools have been provided the opportunity to complete Suicide ASIST training, some schools have also trained further members of their guidance teams.

2. The local authority does not mandate suicide prevention education for all pupils. Schools have access to a range of suicide prevention programmes and resources and may determine how and when these are delivered in accordance with local needs and circumstances.

3. Schools are not required to report the number of pupils who have participated in suicide prevention education programmes and therefore we are unable to provide this figure. Within pilot work to explore the best way to deliver suicide prevention awareness sessions including 60 pupils as per above.

4. The local authority does not hold this information centrally. Information that is not held is exempt under S.17 FOISA - information not held. Consequently, we are unable to provide the number of teachers or school staff who completed suicide prevention training during the 2024/25 academic year. Education staff can access online and locally delivered training sessions or make requests for training to be delivered at their school. Our provider holds records on level of attendances of their training however these are not broken down to specific sectors. As above Child Protection Officers and guidance team members have been accessing Suicide ASIST training.