Suicide: key points

• In Scotland, in 2006, there were 765 deaths by suicides (deaths from intentional self harm and undetermined intent). This equates to an age-standardised rate of 14.7 per 100,000 population.
  
• Three-year rolling average trends: between 2001-02 and 2004-06 there has been a consistent downward trend in suicide rates: 14% decrease for males and 9% decrease for females.
  
• In 2006, the rate for males was almost four times that for females.
  
• Suicide is a leading cause of mortality in those under the age of 35 years.
  
• Those in the most deprived areas of Scotland have a risk double that of the Scottish average.
  
• Scottish rates vary across health board and local authority areas.
  
• Between 1997-01 and 2002-06, the suicide crude rate per 100,000 decreased in 13 of the 14 NHS Boards and in 19 of the 32 local authorities.
  
• Scotland’s suicide rate is higher than rates in other parts of the UK.
  
• While the Scottish rates for 2005 and 2006 are the lowest since 1991, the general trend over the past 25 years has been an upward one.  Since the period 2000-2002, rates have fallen, but it is too early to tell if this will become a significant downward trend.  The rates for 2005 and 2006 are almost identical.  
  
• Deliberate self harm - an act which is intended to cause self-harm, but which does not result in death – is more common among females, especially teenage girls and younger women. 
  
• Choose Life – Scotland’s national suicide prevention strategy and action plan – was launched in December 2002 and may have impacted on the recent downward trend. The ten year strategy identifies key objectives and target groups for action.