One in ten Scots have battled with depression
More than one in ten Scots say they have suffered two or more symptoms of depression after a “steady and significant rise” in the number struggling with the condition.
A total of 11 per cent of those questioned for the 2017 Scottish Health Survey had at least two symptoms against 8 per cent in the 2011 study.
The latest research also showed in the most deprived parts of Scotland, 20 per cent of people had two or more symptoms, compared with just 5 per cent in the least deprived communities.
More than a fifth (21 per cent) of those aged 16 to 24 reported having selfharmed, figures for 201417 showed, with 24 per cent of females in this age group and 19 per cent of males having deliberately hurt themselves.
Rates for self harming rose from 3 per cent of the population in 2008-9 to 7 per cent in 2014-15, before dropping to 6 per cent in 2016-17, according to the survey.
The figures were released at the same time as mental health minister Clare Haughey said the Scottish Government was working towards 39 of the 40 actions laid out in its ten-year mental health strategy. A total of 13 of the actions are either complete or nearly complete, she said.