Some 104 more Scots took their own lives lin 2018 than the previous year
New figures show a worrying increase in Scots taking their own lives.
Suicide in Scotland increased by 14% in 2018 with 784 people in taking their life, up from 680 the year before.
Particularly concerning is the increase in suicide rate among young people age under 25 in Scotland, the highest annual rate since 2007.
James Jopling, executive director of Samaritans Scotland, said: “It is a deeply concerning to see the number of people dying by suicide in Scotland increase in 2018. Each one of those 784 deaths represents a devastating loss with far-reaching consequences for families, friends and communities.”
Over the last 5 years in Scotland, 3,560 people took their own life with the average suicide rate for the last 5 years at 13.4 deaths per 100,000.
Jopling added: “We’re particularly concerned to see the suicide rate for under-25s increase to the highest annual rate since 2007. After years of steady progress, this should serve as a stark reminder that further action is needed to better understand and address all the factors that contribute to suicide - particularly among young people.
“It’s vital that young people don’t come to see suicide as an escape from their struggles and that we seek to address the very real factors which shape their lives. Suicide is preventable. And that means not just looking at access to mental health services, but also at how money worries, job insecurity, experiences of loneliness and disconnectedness can impact young people’s wellbeing.”
Samaritans says suicide prevention requires an ambitious and coordinated public health approach and called on Scotland’s new public health body, due to be established in 2020, to make suicide prevention a priority.
Keith Walker, a volunteer with Samaritans Inverness branch said: “Every hour of every day, 365 days a year, people turn to Samaritans in times of crisis and distress.
“People talk us about all sorts of experiences & worries - they might be going through a bereavement, struggling with the impact of a broken relationship, grappling with the loss of a job or money worries. Many of the people who contact us may feel they have no one else they can reach out to or speak openly with.
"Every call is a reminder that we can all struggle at different times in our lives and of how vital it is that people to feel able to ask for and access help and support when they need it most."
