Suicide: key points

• There were 843 deaths by suicide in Scotland in 2008 (deaths from intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent). This equates to an age-standardised rate of 16.1 per 100,000 population.
  
• Based on three-year rolling averages there was a 10% fall in suicide rates between 2000-02 and 2006-08, although rates in men have increased slightly between 2005-07 and 2006-08.
  
• In 2008, the suicide rate for males was over three times that for females.
  
• Suicide is a leading cause of mortality in those under the age of 35 years.
  
• Suicide rates increased with increasing deprivation with rates in the most deprived 30% of areas of Scotland significantly higher than the rate for Scotland generally.
  
• Scottish rates vary across health board and local authority areas.
  
• Between 1999-03 and 2004-08, the age-standardised suicide rate per 100,000 decreased in 13 of the 14 NHS Boards and in 26 of the 32 local authorities. The age-standardised suicide rate was significantly higher than the rate for Scotland in one NHS board and one local authority area.
  
• Scotland’s suicide rate is higher than rates in other parts of the UK.
  
• Choose Life – Scotland’s national suicide prevention strategy and action plan – was launched in December 2002. The ten year strategy identifies key objectives and target groups for action.

 

Section updates: The last major update of this section was completed in August 2009. The next major update is due to be carried out by end August 2010.