Suicides in Scotland – did you know?

  • The estimated population of Scotland was 5,347,600 in mid-2014 (National Records of Scotland).
  • In 2014, there were 696 suicides registered in Scotland*
  • In 2014, the suicide rate for males was more than 2 and a half times that for females*
  • Choose Life is the National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland. It was launched in 2002 and is intended to be a ten-year strategy. More information about the Suicide Prevention Strategy (2013-16) can be found here

*The above information was sourced from the Choose Life website.

Websites and points of contact

Note: The links are provided as a convenience only and should not be taken as an endorsement of any website, content, product or service. Visits to linked websites are at your own risk.

www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk: this website has a number of sections, some of which are ‘Your Mood’, ‘Your Problems’, ‘Self-help Toolkit’ and a section if you are concerned about someone. There is also a free, confidential number to call for those that are feeling down or stressed. There is a very extensive ‘Links’ section that contains details of many organisations.

www.chooselife.net: a national strategy and action plan to prevent suicide in Scotland. The website contains information about suicide, for those that are suicidal and for those bereaved by suicide. There is an extensive ‘Links’ section that covers a number of areas relevant to mental health.

www.crusescotland.org.uk: Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland is a registered charity which offers free bereavement care and support to people who have experienced the loss of someone close.

www.actionondepression.org: Action on Depression is the national charity for people with depression in Scotland.

www.lifelink.org.uk: LifeLink provides free support and advice to people in crisis, who self harm and are at risk of suicide in the North Glasgow area.

www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk: a self help NHS website offering advice to carers, professionals and people experiencing mental illness and/or in crisis.

www.samh.org.uk: the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) provides local community support services offering practical and emotional support, social activities, advice on employment and education and help with personal care and health issues.

www.wellscotland.info: mental health information site with priority areas, news and research information. It contains a section ‘Useful Contacts’ that provides details should you need immediate help and a Directory (A-Z) of organisations and agencies throughout Scotland.

Need to talk? Samaritans is free to call in the UK on 116 123

Supporting suicide prevention in Scotland