Suicide prevention ‘a priority’ for Holyrood

Mental health minister Clare Haughey MSP has said every suicide is a “tragedy”and that “suicide prevention continues to be an absolute priority”for the Scottish Government.

She said:“every one of these lives lost was a tragedy and my sympathies go out to those who have been bereaved by suicide.

“Suicide prevention continues to be an absolute priority and we are working with the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group to progress the range of actions outlined in our Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Every Life Matters.

“We are also working closely with our partners in Police Scotland and Public Health Scotland to look at ways to extract reliable timely local data from other sources, to inform faster, more effective responses to those impacted by possible suicides.

“While these statistics do not reflect the period of the pandemic, we know this is taking a significant toll on many people’s mental health, and we are doing all we can to support people at this difficult time.

“Our recently published Mental Health Transition & Recovery Plan sets out the wide range of actions we are taking to address those additional pressures brought about by the pandemic.

“We don’t yet know what impact the pandemic will have on suicide rates. We are not being complacent and, together with COSLA, we

accepted the recommendations the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group put forward for a pandemic-specific suicide prevention response.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked last month if the Scottish Government would commit to publishing more up-to-date figures on suicides, and what action is being taken on suicide prevention during the pandemic.

Addressing MSPS at Holyrood, she said:“the figures are very distressing and give us cause for extreme concern, not least because they predate the pandemic and we know there has been an additional impact on people’s mental health over the course of the pandemic.

“Figures on suicides are published annually, but we will consider whether there is anything we can do, consistent with the publication of robust and reliable statistics, to publish statistics, particularly for the pandemic period, more regularly or frequently.

“I can’t give a commitment to that today, but I am happy to ask for that to be considered.

“The Minister for Mental Health has already set out detail of the work we are doing through the mental health transition programme to recover mental health services and to look at the additional work that needs to be done to respond to the pandemic.

“That will include suicide prevention work, but I know the minister will want to respond in full to these statistics and to set out in more detail the work we will be doing over the coming period, as we seek to recover in many ways from what Covid has thrown at us.”

Labour’s health spokesperson and Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon has called on the Scottish Government to go further in their efforts to reduce suicides.

She said:“scotland’s mental health crisis is worsening and this tragic increase in the number of deaths by suicide is worrying. Early intervention is crucial, and suicide prevention must given higher priority.

“As a result of the pandemic, we are seeing unprecedented pressures on people dealing with loneliness and isolation so more must be done.

“The Scottish Government also need to do more than set targets.

“They must work with the NHS and all partners to end long waiting times for mental health care, and ensure support is available and accessible to those that need it as a matter of urgency.”

Priority Clare Haughey