WE CAN ALL DO MORE

All sides will put training on suicide prevention in schools in manifestos

- BY GEMMA RYDER

EVERY major opposition party in Scotland has promised to make the mental health of our young people a key priority in their election manifestos after a Daily Record campaign demanded action to save lives.

We called on the Scottish Government to tackle a youth suicide epidemic after figures revealed that 26 per cent of deaths among young Scots are by probable suicide.

The shocking statistic was reported as thousands of children remain on waiting lists for mental health support, with up to a third of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) referrals being rejected.

As part of our Save Young Lives campaign launched in October, the Record urged the SNP government to commit to making suicide prevention training mandatory in secondary schools.

We also called on all political parties to back the move and to take steps to reduce waiting times for youth mental health services in their manifestos, ensuring this happens if they come to power.

Scottish Labour promised to support the campaign by introducing an emergency service to ensure youngsters in mental health crisis get urgent and specialist care if they win the election.

Their mental health spokesperson Paul Sweeney said: "The suicide of any young person is a devastating loss and we must recognise there are many ways that we can all do more as a community to prevent such tragic and avoidable deaths.

"Even the simple act of observing someone in school who doesn't seem themselves and starting a conversation with them can disrupt and break a spiral of suicidal despair. It could be the difference between life and death.