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Alcohol misuse fuelling Scottish suicide rates

16/06/2008

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.

Suicide rates in Scotland equated to 18.7 per 100,000 of the population compared to 10.2 per 100,000 in England and Wales.

Homicide rates north of the border were 2.12 per 100,000 people compared to 1.23 per 100,000 in England and Wales.

The north-south divide was found to be highest among teenagers.

Murder was most likely to be committed by young men against young men.

In the cases studied, alcohol and drugs had often been taken and the weapon was usually a knife or other sharp object.

"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.

"They must ensure that front-line clinical staff are skilled and confident in assessing and managing misuse; that they develop dedicated services for dual diagnosis, and that they establish close links with addiction teams."