Act now or we will lose more lives to suicide

Call for SNP to address health crisis

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

A “DISTRESSING” rise in suicides has been recorded in Scotland, with poor people and men most likely to take their own lives.

Figures released yesterday showed a spike with the number of men choosing to end their lives increasing by 34.

Those living in the most deprived areas were also 2.5 times more likely to end their lives than in affluent areas.

Mental wellbeing minster Maree Todd admitted the figures were “distressing”.

And Paul Sweeney, Scottish Labour’s spokesperson on mental health, urged the Scottish Government to “act now to save lives”.

Figures published by the National Records of Scotland show 792 deaths recorded as probable suicides last year – 590 male and 202 female.

It is the second successive year suicide numbers have increased, bringing the total number over the last decade to 7505.