Join us on 4th November 10:00 to 12:30 for the event Poverty and Suicide in Scotland as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science

Suicide is a social issue that is deeply shaped by poverty, inequality, state policy and the cost-of-living crisis. In the lead-up to the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026, Samaritans Scotland and the Poverty Alliance called for manifesto commitments on a minimum income guarantee, welfare and benefit reform, and wider cost-of-living measures as important parts of a serious approach to suicide prevention.

Now that the May elections are over, this event, as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026, asks: what are the next steps in tackling poverty as suicide prevention? What policies could make the biggest difference to people experiencing financial insecurity? And how can research, campaigning and lived experience shape what happens next?

Join us to hear from people working across policy, research and suicide prevention, share your own perspective, and explore these questions through discussion and creative practice.

What to expect:

10:00-11: 00: The event will begin with a one-hour panel discussion featuring speakers from a range of organisations, including Samaritans Scotland, the delivery team for Creating Hope Together –Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy – the Discovering Liveability research project, and more. The panel will explore how poverty, welfare insecurity, the cost-of-living crisis and financial hardship impact suicide prevention, and what this means for policy and practice.

11:00-11:15: Break and Snacks

11:15-12:15: Following the panel, attendees will take part in a one-hour ‘blackout poetry’ workshop. Using Scotland’s suicide prevention policy and the manifestos of the six political parties currently represented by MSPs, participants will create poems by selecting and removing words from these political texts. The workshop will finish with a facilitated discussion about the poems and the issues they raise.

The Discovering Liveability project is fully funded by Wellcome. This event is funded by ESRC as part of the Festival of Social Science 2026.