Less women are taking their own lives
Suicide rates in Scotland fell by 7% in 2017, official figures show.
Statistics reveal 680 people took their own lives in Scotland last year, which represents a fall of 48 from 728 deaths in 2016.
The suicide rate has fallen from 13.6 per 100,000, to 12.8.
Samaritans Scotland cautiously welcomed the decline saying that it appears to be driven by a decrease in the female suicide rate although the rate of males taking their own lives has slightly increased.
James Jopling, Samaritans’ executive director for Scotland, said: “While we welcome any decrease in the number of suicides in Scotland, we are concerned that the rate amongst younger and middle-aged men continues to increase. This highlights the challenge of addressing the connection between men and suicide.
“It is also still the case that too many of us would not know where to turn if someone we loved was in crisis and we know that often the support is not there if even if we did. This needs to change.”
Recent research estimates that for every suicide as many as 135 people knew the individual who took their own life.
In Scotland, approximately 92,000 people were impacted by suicide in the last year alone.
The Mental Health Foundation welcomed the fall in suicide deaths but called for a radical new government prevention plan.
Policy manager Toni Giugliano added: "Fewer people died by suicide in 2017 than the previous year and that's to be welcomed.
“However, suicide statistics should be analysed over a longer period of time due to yearly fluctuations.
“Over the past four years the numbers have not shifted substantially and around 700 people have taken their own lives every year - that's on average two people every day."
Green MSP Alison Johnstone said: “A decline in suicides is of course welcome as each death represents distress and trauma for everyone involved.
“It's a concern that the suicide rate for men remains so much higher and that there remains a strong connection with areas experiencing poverty.
“The government's new prevention plan can't come soon enough, and I hope the new minister, Clare Haughey, helps get mental health higher up the government's agenda.”
