NEARLY three-quarters of Scots who took their own lives in the last seven years were men, according to new statistics.
The figures, compiled by the Scottish Suicide Information Database, revealed that 73% of the 5826 people living in Scotland who completed suicide between 2011 and 2017 were male, while more than two-thirds were employed, and 47% were aged between 35 and 54.
NHS Health Scotland said the overall pattern showed a need for greater efforts to improve mental health and wellbeing in the workplace Suicide deaths were around three-times more likely among those living in the most deprived areas than among those living in the wealthiest.
The statistics, which were compiled as part of the database’s remit to “support wider research, policy-making and suicide prevention” make for grim reading.
Around 30% of those who died from suicide had attended A&E in the three months before their death, and 290 of those people died within two days of leaving the hospital, while another 270 died later that week.
Most of those who died had attended hospital, had contact with drug services or were prescribed a mental health drug in the community in the year before their deaths.
However, most had no contact with specialised mental health services in the 12 months before they died. Though some 24% were offered a psychiatric outpatient appointment and 13% had been discharged from psychiatric inpatient care.
The report states: “These findings might raise concerns about a possible shortfall between the mental health needs of high risk individuals and the supply of services that meet those needs.”
Rose Fitzpatrick, chair of the Government’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group, said: “Every suicide is a tragedy, and suicide prevention is everybody’s business. I welcome this report, which will make a significant contribution to informing the actions we need to take to further prevent deaths by suicide.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here