Suicide: national trends
In 2007, there were 620 males and 218 females who deaths were due to suicide (intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent combined).
Chart 1 shows national suicide trends in Scotland over the past 26 years. In 2007, the European age-standardised rate was 15.9 deaths per 100,000 population compared to 14.7 in 1982. The rate peaked in 1993 at 17.6. The rates in 2005 (14.6) were the lowest since 1993.
The European age-standardised rate for men has increased from 19.8 deaths per 100,000 men in 1982 to 24.1 in 2007. For females, rates have decreased from 9.7 deaths per 100,000 women in 1982 to 7.7 in 2007.
Based on three-year rolling averages there was a 13% fall in suicide rates between 2000-02 and 2005-07 (14% for males and 10% for females).
In 2007, the rate for males was around three times that for females.
These European age-standardised rates (EASRs), along with numbers and crude rates by 5 year age band, sex and year are available in the Scotland Overview Spreadsheet 
(64KB).
Chart 2 presents the trends by intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent separately, and shows that recent declines have been due to a reduction in deaths recorded as intentional self harm. The trends for deaths of events of undetermined intent have remained relatively constant.
Chart 3 shows age-specific suicide rates for males across two time period: 1985-1987 and 2005-2007. Over this 20 year period the rates have decreased in males aged 0-14 and 45+ year age groups, but increased in males aged 15-44 year old. The highest rates are in males aged 35-44 and 25-34 years.
Chart 4 shows age-specific suicide rates for females in the same two time periods. Over the 20 year period there has been a large decrease in rates in the 55+ age groups and a moderate increase in younger ages. The highest rates are in females aged 45-54 and 35-44 years.
Note in relation to chart 1 and 2 and the excel file: It is important to note that annual changes are based on relatively small numbers, so may not be statistically significant. For monitoring purposes it is conventional to pool rates over a three year period, and develop three-year rolling averages. In this way, attention shifts from yearly fluctuations. Notwithstanding this convention, we have included individual years in the charts in the interests of transparency. The rates are also available as three-year rolling averages in the excel file.
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