Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 January 2014
21 Jan 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Suicide Prevention
I ask the minister, who has indicated the issues that he is dealing with, why the ministers for education and children are not also involved in the mental health strategy. I want education to be included in the suicide prevention strategy. I know that some schools deal with Facebook, sexting and tweeting and all that, but others do not.
I know that we all think that we are clever clogs at technology but we are way behind youngsters. Why are we not in schools and looking at responsible use of the internet? That has implications for those who put things on the internet, because they will be there for ever—when they go out to look for a job, the things that they have said and done online will still be there—and it has consequences that other people might regret for the rest of their lives if they are party to actions that lead to someone else taking their life.
I therefore ask the Minister for Public Health to advise in his summing-up whether he is discussing these particular issues with the ministers responsible for education and children.
16:02In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08800, in the name of Michael Matheson, on suicide prevention. We have an ample sufficiency of time this...
The Minister for Public Health (Michael Matheson)
SNP
I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Government. As the motion says, “significant progress ... has been made in recent years in suici...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Suicide affects far too many families and communities throughout the world. It is reported that an astonishing 1 million people commit suicide every year. Th...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is customary in most debates to begin by welcoming the issue that has been brought to the chamber for discussion. However, for far too long people have sh...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Many thanks. We move to the open debate. We have ample time for interventions and I look forward to those things happening. 15:17
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
Most of us who speak in this debate probably know or know of someone in their community—perhaps even in their family—who has committed suicide. The loss of a...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am grateful to members who have shared their knowledge on the subject but, like Nanette Milne, I, too, am not content that we need to discuss this issue an...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I pay tribute to the organisations out there that are doing a huge amount of work in tackling mental health stigma and in trying to prevent suicide—organisat...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
Dr Sir Thomas Browne created the word “suicide” meaning “to kill oneself” in the 17th century, but it has always been with us. The early Christian church ex...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
I am glad that Mr Gibson talked about the inroads that have been made in relation to reporting. There are a huge number of responsible journalists out there....
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
I have never watched that programme so I find it difficult to comment on that one in particular, but all stereotypes involving people with mental health issu...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I, too, welcome the publication of the Scottish Government’s new “Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013-2016”, and I commend the minister for providing us with th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Christine Grahame, who has a generous six minutes. After that, I will be happy to call James Dornan. 15:53
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I compliment the Parliament on discussing mental health and suicide prevention. In my long time in the Parliament, we seem to have raised those issues many t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Yes.
Christine Grahame
SNP
I ask the minister, who has indicated the issues that he is dealing with, why the ministers for education and children are not also involved in the mental he...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I was not going to take part in the debate but, with your indulgence Presiding Officer, I will make a short contribution. Some members have already raised t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We now turn to closing speeches. I remind members who participated in the debate that they should be in the chamber for closing speeches. 16:07
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
This is one of these debates to which we contribute as politicians wishing that we knew more about the subject—much more about the subject than any one of us...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
I understand—I do not think that this is a Westminster myth—that, for a great number of years, the sons and daughters of newly elected MPs received a letter ...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Potentially, within what Mr Stewart says is the germ of an idea that goes way beyond politicians. Children who have suffered might well be a source of inform...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I have advised Parliament that I expect all members who have participated in debates to be present for closing speeches. I regret to note that Graeme Pearson...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Like many other members, I find it difficult to imagine what drives people to suicide or, indeed, the anguish of family members who are faced with the suicid...
Michael Matheson
SNP
I very much welcome the tone of the debate and appreciate the fact that all members support the motion. Over the years we have been able to share a common pu...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I totally agree with the minister’s point about Scotland leading the way in strategies and so on. However, in a 10-year period, we have also seen an increase...
Michael Matheson
SNP
In any mental health debate, the prescribing of antidepressants is inevitably raised. It is worth keeping it in mind that medication for mental illness is as...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
Michael Matheson
SNP
Let me just finish my point. If those individuals are in contact with those services, why are we not picking up on their potential risk of committing suicid...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I can give you about two minutes more.
Christine Grahame
SNP
Some members said that some suicides are not detectable and come out the blue. On suicides being preventable, will the minister—before he runs out of time—ad...