Dundee tops suicide rate in mainland Scotland

Mother welcomes review of centre but stresses doctors must ‘start listening’

Dundee has the worst suicide rate in mainland Scotland for the second year in a row.

Figures published yesterday revealed 32 people killed themselves in the city last year, while there was a big rise in Fife.

A campaigner whose son took his own life said the suffering would only ease with major improvements to NHS Tayside’s mental health services.

Last year’s suicide toll is a slight improvement on 2016, when 37 people committed suicide in Dundee.

In Fife, the number surged by 20% in a year to 52 deaths although that is down on the 68 in 2011.

Perth and Kinross was one of four local authorities in Scotland where no suicides were recorded last year.

Dundee mum Mandy McLaren lost her son Dale Thomson in 2011 when he was just 28. He died just four days after Carseview professionals said he did not need to be detained.

The then Health Secretary Shona Robison announced in February that an independent review would be held into the Tayside facility.

Ms McLaren said: “If it’s true what they said, that the review is going to be totally independent and they listen to what families like mine are saying, then it can make a big difference.

“The doctors at Carseview just do not listen and, until that changes, until they start listening to the families, the GPs and patients, then nothing is going to change.”

James Jopling, from the Samaritans in Scotland, said: “Whilst we need to be cautious about a one-year increase in deaths and look at the longer-term trend, the rise in deaths in Fife should be seen as a warning sign.”

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar said: “More must be done to promote suicide prevention and that begins by ensuring we have mental health services that are fit for use.

There were 680 deaths recorded as probable suicides across Scotland in 2017, down 7% from 2016.

Orkney had the highest suicide rate (0.23 deaths per 1,000 residents), compared with Dundee (0.22), Fife (0.14), Angus (0.08), Perth and Kinross (0) and Scotland (0.01).

A Scottish Government spokesman said they would soon publish a suicide prevention action plan.

“Suicide is a complex phenomenon with a wide range of factors.

“However, the very strong downward trend of 20% in Scotland’s suicide rate over the period 2002/2006 to 2013/2017 is encouraging and is testament to the hard work of all those in the suicide prevention field.”

Dundee mother Mandy McLaren, whose son took his own life at the age of 28.