£3 million to help prevent suicides

AN extra £3 million will be invested in a new suicide prevention fund, the Scottish Government has said.

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt also confirmed a new suicide prevention plan would be published before the end of the month.

The news comes ahead of a debate at Holyrood where the Liberal Democrats will call for a “step change” in mental health investment and services.

A motion lodged by the party condemns a “serious and sustained decline” in services “including worsening waits for children, adolescents and adults requiring treatment”.

The party’s health spokesman Alex ColeHamilton said: “The steady flow of distressing statistics and personal testimonies this past year have confirmed just how bad the situation has become.”

Ms Watt said: “Our suicide prevention plan will invest an extra £3m into a new suicide prevention fund to support a leadership group to secure innovation and act as a driver for new work to help prevent suicides across Scotland.”