Suicide: key points

• There were 746 suicides in Scotland in 2009 (deaths from intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent).  This is a reduction on the 2008 figure, and equates to an age-sex-standardised rate of 14.2 per 100,000 population.
  
• Based on three-year rolling averages, between 2000-02 and 2007-09 there was a 13% fall in suicide rates in men and a 7% fall in women.
  
• In 2009, the suicide rate for males was just under three times that for females.
  
• Suicide is a leading cause of mortality in those under the age of 35 years.
  
• Suicide rates generally increased with increasing deprivation, with rates in the most deprived 30% of areas of Scotland significantly higher than the Scottish average.  The rate remains approximately four times higher in the most deprived area compared to the least deprived area. 
  
• Scottish rates vary across health board and local authority areas.
  
• Between 2000-04 and 2005-09, the age-sex-standardised suicide rate per 100,000 decreased in 10 of the 14 NHS Boards and in 22 of the 32 local authorities. For both sexes combined, the age-sex-standardised suicide rate was significantly higher than the rate for Scotland in one NHS board (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) and one local authority area (Glasgow City).
  
• In 2004 (latest year comparable data available) Scotland’s suicide rate was 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.
  
• A change in the procedure used by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to inform GROS about suicides was implemented mid-2009. An assessment undertaken by the GROS on the likely effect of the change suggests that it has had little effect on the overall total number of probable suicides. Full details can be viewed on the GROS website.
  

 

Section updates: The last major update of this section was completed in August 2010. The next major update is due to be carried out by end August 2011.