Suicide and Self-Harm in Scotland

Author: Cristina Marini

PDF Published: Wednesday 06 Jul 2022 (SB 22-46)

Expand
Overview
Report

Hide

Hide

Overview
Report
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Prevalence of suicide in Scotland
  - Age and sex
  - Deprivation
  - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Prevalence of self-harm in Scotland
  - Age and sex
  - Inpatients diagnosed with self-harm injuries
  - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Scottish Government policy
  - Suicide
    
    Every Life Matters
    
    COVID-19 pandemic
    
    Overall progress
    
    Upcoming suicide prevention strategy
  - Self-harm
- Conclusion
Sources

Graph shows trends from 2000-2020 in the male, female, and overall suicide rates in Scotland. The data is provided in the text description of the graph and in the body of the text.

Image: Figure 1 - All persons: Suicide rates per 100,000 population in Scotland (old coding rules)

Graph shows trends from 2008-09 to 2018-19 in the percentage of those reporting ever tempting suicide, broken down by males, females, and overall. The data is provided in the text description of the graph.

Image: Figure 2 - Scottish Health Survey, 2008-09 to 2018-19 (combined years), percentage reporting ever attempting suicide, by sex

The graph depicts the trends for the male suicide rate from 1990-2020 in the 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and 75-84 age groups. Description of the data is provided in the body of the text.

Image: Figure 3 - Male suicide rate (crude rate per 100,000 population) in Scotland, 1990-2020, by age

The graph depicts the trends for the female suicide rate from 1982-2020 in the 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and 75-84 age groups. Description of the data is provided in the body of the text.

Image: Figure 4 - Female suicide rate (crude rate per 100,000 population) in Scotland, 1990-2020, by age

The graph on the left compares the male, female, and overall suicide rate in Scotland's most deprived decile for 2006-2010 and 2016-2020 combined. The graph on the right compares the male, female, and overall suicide rate in Scotland's least deprived decile for 2006-2010 and 2016-2020 combined. Data for the graph is provided in the body of the text.

Image: Figure 5 - Crude rates per 100,000 population, SIMD decile vs. Least deprived SIMD decline, 2006-10 to 2016-20

This bar-chart presents the percentage of respondents reporting suicidal thoughts by COVID-19 wave in chronological order, from left (Spring 2020) to right (Summer 2021). In each wave, the bar on the left (purple) represents the percentage for all participants. The bar on the right (orange) represents the percentage for young adults. Data is provided in the bar-chart's text description.

Image: Figure 6 - Percentage of respondents reporting suicidal thoughts by COVID-19 wave (overall and young adults)

This graph shows the trends in the percentage of females, males, and all persons reporting ever self-harming from 2008-09 to 2018-19. Data is provided in the text description of the graph.

Image: Figure 7 - Scottish Health Survey, percentage ever self-harming, by sex, 2008-09 to 2018-19

This bar-chart depicts the percentage of those reporting ever deliberately self-harming, by age group. Data is provided in the text description for the bar-chart.

Image: Figure 8 - Scottish Health Survey, percentage reporting ever deliberately self-harming (2018-19 combined, by age group)

There are two bar-charts in this image. On the left, the percentage of 16-24 year olds is provided by sex (female on the left and male on the right). On the right, the percentage of 25-34 year olds is provided by sex (females on the left and males on the right). Data is provided in the text description.

Image: Figure 9 - Scottish Health Survey, percentage reporting ever self-harming (2018-19 combined, by age group and sex).

Line chart showing the trends in the number of adult inpatients diagnosed with self-harm related injuries, from 2007 to 2021. Data is provided in the text description of the chart.

Image: Figure 10 - Number of adult (18+) inpatients diagnosed with self-harm related injuries in Scottish NHS acute hospitals, by calendar year of admission (2007-2021)

Line chart showing the trends in the number of child inpatients diagnosed with self-harm related injuries, from 2007 to 2021. Data is provided in the text description of the chart.

Image: Figure 11 -Number of child (<18) inpatients diagnosed with self-harm related injuries in Scottish NHS acute hospitals, by calendar year of admission (2007-2021)

Population Health Directorate, the Scottish Government. (2018, August 9). Suicide prevention action plan: every life matters. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-suicide-prevention-action-plan-life-matters/

Samaritans Scotland. (2021, October 14). Scottish Government commits to self-harm strategy. Retrieved from https://www.samaritans.org/scotland/news/scottish-government-commits-to-self-harm-strategy/

Mind. (2020, April). Suicidal feelings. Retrieved from https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/about-suicidal-feelings/

Samaritans Scotland. (2020, October). Hidden too long: uncovering self-harm in Scotland. Retrieved from https://media.samaritans.org/documents/HiddenTooLong_uncoveringself-harminScotland.pdf

Public Health Scotland. (2021, August 17). Suicide statistics for Scotland: Update of trends for the year 2020. Retrieved from https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/suicide-statistics-for-scotland/suicide-statistics-for-scotland-update-of-trends-for-the-year-2020/

Samaritans. (2017). Research briefing: Gender and suicide. Retrieved from https://www.samaritans.org/scotland/about-samaritans/research-policy/gender-and-suicide/

The Scottish Public Health Observatory. (2021, August 17). Suicide: introduction. Retrieved from https://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/suicide/introduction/

ScotPHO. (2021, August 17). Suicide: mental illness. Retrieved from https://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/suicide/data/mental-illness/

Public Health Scotland. (2021, May 25). Scottish suicide information database: A profile of deaths by suicide in Scotland from 2011 to 2019. Retrieved from https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/scottish-suicide-information-database/scottish-suicide-information-database-a-profile-of-deaths-by-suicide-in-scotland-from-2011-to-2019/

Public Health Scotland. (2021, July). Suicide deaths registered in Scotland: Scotland overview. Retrieved from https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scotpho.org.uk%2Fmedia%2F2057%2Fsuicide_scotland_overview_2021.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

The Scottish Government. (2020, July 13). National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group: COVID-19 statement. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group-covid-19-statement/

The Scottish Government. (2022, February). Scottish COVID-19 Mental Health Tracker Study: Wave 5 Report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2022/02/scottish-covid-19-scovid-mental-health-tracker-study-wave-5-report/documents/scottish-covid-19-mental-health-tracker-study-wave-5-report/scottish-covid-19-mental-health-tracker-study-wave-5-report/govscot%3Adocument/scottish-covid-19-mental-health-tracker-study-wave-5-report.pdf

McManus, S., Lubian, K., Bennett, C., Turley, C., Gill, V., Gunnell, D., … Weich, S. (2019). Suicide and self-harm in Britain: researching risk and resilience using UK surveys. Retrieved from https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/nccmh/suicide-prevention/monthly-clinic/(5)-suicide-and-self-harm-in-britain-natcen.pdf?sfvrsn=87644c7b_2

Borschmann, R., & Kinner, S.A. (2019). Responding to the rising prevalence of self-harm. The Lancet, 6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30210-X

Public Health Scotland. (2014, May 8). Prevention of suicide and self-harm: Research briefing. Retrieved from http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/23356.aspx

The Scottish Government. (2020, September 29). Scottish Health Survey 2019: supplementary tables (1. General health and wellbeing). Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey-2019-supplementary-tables/

University of Manchester. (2017, October 19). 'Steep rise' in self-harm among teenage girls. Retrieved from https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/steep-rise-in-self-harm-among-teenage-girls/

Morgan, C., Webb, R.T., Carr, M.J., Kontopantelis, E., Green, J., Chew-Graham, C.A., … Ashcroft, D.M. (2017). Incidence, clinical management, and mortality risk following self harm among children and adolescents: cohort study in primary care. BMJ. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4351

Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2010, June). Self-harm, suicide and risk: helping people who self-harm: Final report of a working group. Retrieved from https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/college-reports/college-report-cr158.pdf?sfvrsn=fcf95b93_2

The Scottish Government. (2021, January). The Scottish Health Survey - 2020 edition telephone survey, volume 2, technical report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2021/01/scottish-health-survey-telephone-survey-august-september-2020-technical-report/documents/scottish-health-survey-2020-edition-telephone-survey-volume-2-technical-report/scottish-health-survey-2020-edition-telephone-survey-volume-2-technical-report/govscot%3Adocument/scottish-health-survey-2020-edition-telephone-survey-volume-2-technical-report.pdf

Iob, E., Steptoe, A., & Fancourt, D. (2020). Abuse, self-harm and suicidal ideation in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 217, 543-546. doi: https://doi.org/10.1192%2Fbjp.2020.130

Population Health Directorate, the Scottish Government. (2020, October 12). Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health tracker study - wave 1 report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-covid-19-scovid-mental-health-tracker-study-wave-1-report/documents/

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2020, July 13). National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group: COVID-19 statement. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group-covid-19-statement/

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2018, November 12). National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group: terms of reference. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group-terms-of-reference/

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2020, August). National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group: delivery plan. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group-delivery-plan/

COSLA. (2021). Local Area Suicide Prevention Action Plan Guidance. Retrieved from https://www.cosla.gov.uk/about-cosla/our-teams/health-and-social-care/local-area-suicide-prevention-action-plan-guidance

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2020, September 30). Suicide prevention leadership group: second annual report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group-second-annual-report/

NHS Education for Scotland. (2019). Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention in Scotland: Workforce Development Plan, 2019 - 2021. Retrieved from https://test1.nes.digital/media/4312330/Workforce%20Development%20Plan%20for%20Mental%20Health%20Improvement%20and%20Suicide%20Prevention%20in%20Scotland_June2019.pdf

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2021, August 21). Pilot Suicide Bereavement Support Service launched in Scotland. Retrieved from https://nsplg.medium.com/pilot-suicide-bereavement-support-service-launched-5fd0dc63f28f

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2021, October 13). Time, Space, Compassion Three simple words, one big difference: Recommendations for improvements in suicidal crisis response. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/time-space-compassion-three-simple-words-one-big-difference-recommendations-improvements-suicidal-crisis-response/pages/1/

The Scottish Government. (2021, October 13). Improving response for people at risk of suicide. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/news/improving-response-for-people-at-risk-of-suicide/

National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. (2021, September 30). National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG): third annual report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/third-annual-report-national-suicide-prevention-leadership-group-nsplg/pages/4/

The Scottish Government. (2021, February 3). Suicide prevention action plan 2018 - 2020: review. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/review-scotlands-suicide-prevention-action-plan-2018-2020/documents/

COSLA. (2021). Suicide Prevention Strategy Development. Retrieved from https://www.cosla.gov.uk/about-cosla/our-teams/health-and-social-care/local-area-suicide-prevention-action-plan-guidance2

Performance and Strategic Outcomes Directorate, the Scottish Government. (2021, September 7). A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/fairer-greener-scotland-programme-government-2021-22/pages/4/

The Scottish Government. (2011, March 31). Responding to Self-Harm in Scotland Final Report. Retrieved from https://www.basw.co.uk/resources/responding-self-harm-scotland-final-report

Last Updated: 27/7 1:08am

An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.