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A retired top cop has called on every member of society to help save young lives amidst a suicide epidemic. Graham Goulden - who spent 30 years in policing - made the emotional plea to back a new Daily Record campaign to tackle the issue. The former Scottish Violence Reduction Unit Chief Inspector said the situation is so critical that adults in all communities must work to help prevent youngsters from taking their own lives - and that the battle can "no longer be left to professionals alone".. Goulden, 57, said: “This is a fight for all of us. Prevention starts in the community and we each have a part to play in early intervention. "Even a simple conversation with a child can make a life-changing difference.” Goulden, who now works as a speaker on leadership and wellbeing, continued: “Too often, we wait for a crisis to happen before acting. If we step in early, we can prevent tragedy. Once a young person reaches crisis point, it’s much harder to help. "Our children are under enormous stress, navigating a complex world and all of us – parents, teachers and neighbours – share responsibility for their wellbeing. “And when a young person dies, the grief doesn’t just affect their family – it spreads through their friends and community too. That cycle of pain further damages the mental health of many. "We need to break that cycle.” Goulden said even the simplest tools can save lives as he urged both adults and young people alike to learn how to identify the signs of when someone is struggling - and how then can help. He said: "Most importantly, communication matters. Asking, ‘Are you okay?’ or ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ can completely change someone’s day, or even their life. "It’s about being present, listening, and showing you care. "Research shows that conversation can interrupt and avert crisis. People who feel suicidal often don’t want to die – they just want the pain to stop. "By simply talking, we have the power to intervene before it’s too late.” The Daily Record launched its Save Young Lives campaign this week in a bid to tackle the issue of youth suicide and support kids in crisis. Our campaign makes three key demands: Supporting our demands, Goulden added: “This is a great campaign and the Scottish Government must act on education and on mental-health waiting lists. "It's so important to ensure lessons are delivered in schools because every child should have the tools to support themselves and each other. “Within that, we need to teach young people they don’t need to have all the answers. They just need to reach out for help.” Earlier this week, grieving mum Susan Hart bravely opened up on the loss of her 16-year-old son Jordan to suicide. He was just days away from his 17th birthday. Her courage in speaking out has sparked a national conversation about how Scotland can better protect vulnerable young people. She said: "Every morning I think I've woken up in a nightmare, but it is my reality and the pain in my heart will never go away." Susan wants lessons on youth suicide to be taught in classrooms because she believes this can deliver life-saving support and could have saved Jordan. "The statistics speak for themselves", she added. "But young people who die by suicide have to be more than just a statistic. Suicide is a silent killer and we need to help young people get the tools they need. "I am backing the Record's Save Young Lives campaign to drive that change." On Thursday, a group of bereaved fathers delivered a 'powerful' message on youth suicide to Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth at Holyrood. Mike Palmer, Andy Airey and Tim Owen - who each lost a daughter - also called for every school in Scotland to provide suicide prevention support and better training for teachers. The trio successfully fought for suicide prevention training to be delivered in English schools and are now demanding that classrooms north of the border follow suit. Following the meeting, Ms Gilruth said: "I am very grateful to the dads for the powerful meeting, which was a reminder of the risks of suicide and the need to open up conversations, which we know can save lives." But Susan said the minister must make sure her actions speak louder than words. The mum added: "It's a huge step forward that the government has met with these three dads, but I hope it's clear that this mental health training in schools is needed now. "This is a national emergency and Jenny Gilruth should take action directly after the meeting to move quickly. "We can't still be waiting five years down the line. If that happens, we will lose far too many more young people." For confidential support, Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.
