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Creating Hope: Cheviot Youth and Insight Youth Recognised as Suicide Prevention Champions
- Ross Irvine (Head of Psychological Services)
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
We’re proud to announce that Cheviot Youth — including our region-wide counselling and psychotherapy service, Insight Youth — has been awarded the Creating Hope Champions Award by the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership.
This award recognises organisations that are actively committed to being mentally healthy and suicide safer communities. It reflects the work we do every day — not only to support young people and families in distress, but to nurture a culture where compassion, safety, and hope are always within reach.
What the Award Means
The Creating Hope Champions Award is the highest level of recognition in the regional scheme. It requires not only awareness, but embedded action across staff, volunteers, and organisational practice.
At Insight Youth, this sits naturally alongside our existing commitment to trauma-informed, relational, and neuro-affirming care. These principles also extend across our wider Cheviot Youth services, where youth workers provide safe, inclusive spaces for connection and support — including specific groups such as our LGBTQ+ youth and allies group. Youth workers are often the first trusted adults young people open up to, and they are trained and supported to respond with calm, care, and compassion — ensuring that no matter where a young person connects with us, they are met with respect and hope.
Suicide Prevention Champions
Two of our senior leaders — Ross Irvine (Head of Psychological Services) and Lee Armitage, our Senior Practitioner — are specially qualified counselling therapists and ASIST-trained Suicide Prevention Champions. They lead our organisation’s internal learning and model safe, ethical, and compassionate responses to mental health crisis.
We know that the right conversation at the right time can make all the difference.
Time, Space, and Compassion
We have trained all staff and volunteers to apply the Time, Space and Compassion approach:
Time to listen, without rushing.
Space to talk safely — in private rooms, by phone, or online.
Compassion to connect, signpost, and contain difficult feelings.
Our youth clubs, counselling rooms, and outreach settings are all designed to hold these values in action.
Clear Signposting
We display the Ask for HOPE campaign across our locations, letting young people and families know they can discreetly ask for support. Staff are confident using NHS Borders' signposting tools to connect people to further help.
For further support options, visit: Psychological Services
Not the End — Just a Mark of What We Do
This award formalises the culture we already live. We’re not just here to respond in crisis — we’re here to promote mental wellness, challenge stigma, and create spaces where asking for help is not just allowed, but welcomed.
If you’re a young person, a parent, or a professional reading this — and wondering if reaching out makes a difference — please know this:
We are here. We are ready. And hope lives here.
