Number of suicides in Scotland drop for fifth year running but poorest still most likely to take their own life

The poorest people Scotland are three times more likely to take their own life than the country's richest citizens, new figures have revealed.

The National Records of Scotland figures show that in 2015 there were 22.1 deaths per 100,000 people in the most deprived tenth of the population compared to 7.3 deaths per 100,000 people in the most affluent.

Samaritans Scotland slammed the figures as “simply not tolerable” and called for a new approach to tackle suicide and deprivation.

James Jopling, the charity’s executive director for Scotland said the Scottish Government must focus on work going on at local levels to enable organisations like the anti-suicide charity to double their efforts and target areas with high levels of deprivation.

It is simply not tolerable that the risk of a person taking their own life is substantially increased according to how disadvantaged they may be

“It is simply not tolerable that the risk of a person taking their own life is substantially increased according to how disadvantaged they may be," said Jopling.

“Suicide is an unjust and avoidable difference in length of life that results from being less affluent. This demands our attention and further action.”

Overall, 672 people took their own lives last year, 24 deaths fewer, or a 3% fall when compared to the previous year.

The statistics showed significantly more men took their own lives, accounting for 71% of all suicides. People aged between 40 and 44 had the largest number of suicides of any age group in 2015 with 87 for their age bracket.

Jopling added: “The loss of each one of these 672 lives is a uniquely deeply-felt and personal tragedy which will have had a devastating effect on families and communities right across Scotland.”