Devastating‘soft data’shows cases could be up by a third

STEPHEN BARK

Health officials are expecting suicide rates to be up to a third higher in 2019 when official figures are published.

Analysis of so-called “soft data” by suicide prevention teams in South Lanarkshire has revealed a 36 per cent increase in people taking their own lives last year.

A report to the council’s social work committee on Wednesday, March 4, outlined some detail on the 38 suicides reported by Police Scotland in the region in 2019.

Half of all suicides were by people under 34, while 87 per cent of people taking their own lives were men.

Hamilton and East Kilbride (seven) saw the most suicides, with five in Rutherglen, four in Larkhall, three in Blantyre and Cambuslang, two in Lanark and Lesmahagow and one each in Biggar, Blackwood, Carluke, Stonehouse and Uddingston.

Almost a third (11) were people living in areas of the greatest deprivation.

Across Lanarkshire, there were 98 deaths classed as suicides in 2018, up from 73 in 2017.

That figure includes deaths from intentional self-harm and ones where the intent was undetermined.

Of those 98, there were 58 people living in North Lanarkshire and 40 living in South Lanarkshire – up from 40 and 33 respectively.

Jennifer Hutton and Susan McMorrin from NHS Lanarkshire, said the “soft data” gathered in cooperation with Police Scotland gave them an idea of what the official figures could be when published later this year.

Ms Hutton said: “Nothing devastates a community more than suicide.

“In South Lanarkshire, we believe every suicide is preventable. Suicide prevention is rooted in good mental health for all.

“Everyone around this table has a role to play. We have done a lot of work but we have a shed of work still to do around suicide prevention.

“In 2018, there was a national spike in suicides. We don’t yet have data for 2019.

“If you are male, you are three times more likely to contemplate suicide.”

Suicide rates in Scotland had been consistently falling for more than a decade before increasing in 2018.

Across the country, there were 784 suicides in 2018 – up from 680 in 2017.

If the trend in South Lanarkshire last year was replicated nationally, potentially as many as 1000 people could have taken their own lives.

If you need to talk to someone, call the Samaritans on 116 123.

Breathing Space is also a place to talk.

Lines are open 24 hours at weekends and from 6pm to 6am Monday to Friday and 6pm to 2am at other times via 0800 83 85 87.