Government urged to increase suicide prevention funding as figures stabilise

A mental health charity has called on the Scottish Government to provide further suicide prevention funding as statistics showed suicide deaths have stabilised.

Figures from the National Records of Scotland showed there were 703 probable suicide deaths in 2025, one fewer than in 2024.

The data showed there were 522 probable suicide deaths among males and 181 among females.

The rate of probable suicides in the most deprived areas was 2.7 times the rate in the least deprived areas, a gap which has narrowed over time.

Billy Watson, chief executive of SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), said the data shows “much remains unchanged.”

He said: “We must be wary of reading too much into a single year of data, but we also need to remember that we are not just talking about data. Each one of the 703 people who died by suicide last year is someone who is missed by their family, friends and community.

“This is a very slight reduction in overall deaths by suicide but follows a more significant reduction in 2024, and this is to be welcomed.

“However much remains unchanged, including the fact that men and people living in poverty are around three times more likely to die by suicide. We must take impactful collective action to prevent further suicides and save more lives.”

In January, the Scottish Government and Cosla published a national action plan setting out priorities for suicide prevention over the next three years.

Pledging at least £3 million funding in 2026-27, the plan includes actions to reduce inequalities to prevent suicide deaths, including supporting people living in poverty.

Mr Watson said current funding commitments “pale in comparison” to the Scottish Governments previous suicide prevention strategy in 2003.

He said: “We know that empowered local communities are key to this, but they need the support and resource to take the local actions needed to prevent and respond to suicide. Because of this, it was disappointing that the recent Programme for Government committed to only £3 million a year.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government to increase national suicide prevention funding to at least £6 million annually and ring-fence local funding to facilitate action to reduce deaths by suicide.

“Current funding commitments pale in comparison to the ring-fenced £12 million (equivalent to almost £18 million today) that the then-Scottish Executive spent on delivering Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy between 2003 to 2006.”

The Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Maree Todd, said that while the reduction in figures since 2017 has been sustained, the Government is “not complacent”.

On a visit to the Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust in Rutherglen, she said: “Behind every one of these statistics is a person who leaves behind family and friends and a wider community. The effect is devastating and lasting, and our thoughts today are with everyone who have lost a loved one to suicide.

“Whilst the reduction shown in last year’s figures has been sustained, we are not complacent. Our aim is for anyone, regardless of age, who has thoughts of taking their own life, or is affected by suicide, to get the help they need.”

Ms Todd welcomed a 42% fall in rates of suicide in the most deprived areas since 2001, but said she recognised poverty is “closely linked to poor mental health and suicide”.

She continued: “We know that poverty is closely linked to poor mental health and suicide, and these figures show that people in our most deprived communities are still far more likely to die by suicide.

“That is why we are working with partners to invest in communities across Scotland, including Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust here in Rutherglen, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.

“Our suicide prevention strategy with Cosla prioritises people at higher risk including those living in poverty. We will keep listening and learning, guided by evidence and by people with lived and living experience.”

Cosla health and social care spokesman Paul Kelly said: “Every suicide is a tragedy that has a profound impact on families, friends and communities. Today, our thoughts are with everyone affected by suicide.

“Through our national strategy, Creating Hope Together, Cosla and the Scottish Government are committed to working with partners across Scotland to prevent suicide, tackle inequalities, and ensure that people can access the support they need, when they need it.”