NHS Health Scotland
 
Outcome Indicators
 
2.3 Suicide awareness raising and prevention training, mental health awareness and prevention training, promotion of mental wellbeing, and early identification and management of mental health problems should be universal and targeted on populations at higher risk of mental health problems.

Rationale
Large numbers of the population in Scotland are affected by common mental health problems - approximately 20% of the population in Scotland will experience depression at some point in their lives.1 The age-standardised rate of death by suicide (i.e. deaths by intentional self-harm and undetermined intent) is 16.1 per 100,000 population.[2]

A recent Scottish survey has found strong correlations between mental health problems and having low income, finding it difficult to manage financially and living in deprived areas of the country.3 There is also evidence that suicide rates increase with deprivation.[2]

Source:

  1. SIGN (2010). SIGN 114: Non-pharmacological management of depression in adults: A national clinical guidelines. SIGN: Edinburgh

  2. Choose Life: the national strategy and action plan to prevent suicide in Scotland.Scottish Executive, 2002.

  3. Davidson S et al (2009). Well? What Do You Think? (2008): The Fourth National Scottish Survey of Public Attitudes to Mental Wellbeing and Mental Health Problems. Scottish Government Social Research: Edinburgh.