SAMH calls for urgent action to tackle increasing suicide rates
2nd August 2017
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) is today calling for further investment in suicide prevention, as new figures show that 728 people died by suicide last year.
This is an eight percent increase, up from 672 in 2015. SAMH would like to see suicide prevention activity and support protected from public sector cuts.
Billy Watson, SAMH Chief Executive said:
“These new figures showing an increase in suicides in the last year warrant immediate action.
“The Scottish Government is due to publish a new Suicide Prevention Strategy this year, and we’d urge them to bring these plans forward. The new strategy must be ambitious, but it also has to deliver on it’s promises.
“Public awareness and community services are crucial to tackling suicide rates. We need to ensure that support isn’t reduced at a time when suicide rates are rising and local services are experiencing cuts.
“Our long standing campaign, Two Too Many, highlighted the devastating impact of suicide. SAMH works every day to prevent suicide and to support those affected.”
Half of all mental health problems in adulthood begin before the age of 14. SAMH would like to see further investment in early intervention solutions for children and young people, so that mental health problems can be helped at the earliest opportunity and suicides prevented.
Nicky’s daughter, Charlie, was just 14 when she first tried to take her own life.
Nicky said:
“When you’re watching your child on what appears to be a mission to self destruct, and you’re unable to help them, it destroys you. How could my child be so sad that she wanted to kill herself? A mothers instinct is to make things better, but I didn’t know how to do this. I needed professional help.
“There are too many kids out there suffering in silence, who don’t get the support they need. And it almost killed my daughter and broke our family.”
*You can view the statistics from Scotpho here www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/suicide/key-points
*Suicide statistics are considered on a five-year rolling average.
