Alcohol misuse fuelling Scottish suicide rates

Alcohol and drug misuse in Scotland has driven up suicide and murder rates in the country, according to research published today.

The University of Manchester study found that Scots are almost twice as likely to kill or take their own life compared with people living in England and Wales.

The number of mental health patients committing homicide or suicide was proportionately much higher in Scotland.

“Alcohol and drug misuse runs through these findings and it appears to be a major contributor to risk in mental health care and broader society,” said Louis Appleby, professor of psychiatry and director of Manchester University’s National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness.

“The findings suggest that alcohol and drugs lie behind Scotland’s high rates of suicide and homicide and the frequency with which they occur as antecedents in our report are striking.”

Of the 1,373 patient suicides in the report there was a history of alcohol misuse in 785 cases and a history of drug misuse in 522 cases.

And of the 58 patient homicides observed, 41 had a history of alcohol abuse and 45 had drug misuse.

Among all cases, whether patients or not, drug and alcohol dependence were the most common diagnoses.

In both suicide and homicide, most were not under the care of addiction services.

“Our findings support the view that alcohol and drugs are the most pressing mental health problems in Scotland and mental health services can play their part,” said Professor Appleby.