New help for suicidal men launched

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.