News

A helpline is being launched to curb the soaring suicide rate among men, in a £1.2 million Scottish executive funded scheme.

The scheme aims to tackle the "macho" culture that results in many males refusing to seek help from their GPs, and offers a discreet confidential helpline instead.

The service will be promoted in pubs and clubs and advertised on beer mats. The executive hopes that men to will be encouraged to seek help earlier rather than rely on last resort services such as The Samaritans.

Suicide rates in Scotland are among the highest in Europe with an average 670 men committing suicide in Scotland each year. The Scottish suicide rate for men aged 15 to 24 is double that of England, and young men are six times more likely to take their lives than women.