Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

We move to the next item of business. I allowed both the statement and topical questions to run over quite a bit, so I am looking for as much consideration a...

The Minister for Mental Health (Maureen Watt) SNP

I am pleased that we have an opportunity today to discuss suicide and its prevention in Scotland. The Scottish Government attaches the utmost priority to thi...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

Will the minister take an intervention?

Maureen Watt SNP

As we debate the hugely important issue of suicide and its prevention, it is vital that we recognise the improvements that are being made. It is also importa...

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

Will the minister take an intervention?

Maureen Watt SNP

Presiding Officer, you have just sent me a note asking me to curb my speech, and I have about four minutes over. If members wish to raise issues during their...

Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak today on an important subject that, unfortunately, is not spoken about enough. The consequences of suicide are...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Suicide prevention is a critically important issue, and Scottish Labour welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the debate. The motion before us is absolut...

Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I absolutely agree that we have to look at the wider causes. Would Monica Lennon include the austerity agenda that underpins welfare reforms in her list of f...

Monica Lennon Lab

Yes, absolutely. Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 50. Three quarters of those who die by suicide in Scotland are men. Focusing on how health ...

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP) SNP

I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am a registered mental health nurse. I hold a current registration with the Nursing and Midwi...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on a subject that is not the easiest to discuss. It is apt that the Mental Health Foundation Scotland ...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP

I remind members in the chamber that I am the parliamentary liaison officer to the health secretary. Given the new 10-year mental health strategy, it is cle...

Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

It is a privilege to participate in this debate about a difficult and challenging issue. At the outset, I thank all the organisations who provided briefings ...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak on an issue that is so important in contemporary Scotland. I first brought this subject to the chamber in August 1999, in a question ab...

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green) Green

We are all very conscious this afternoon that we have recently seen the first increase in deaths by suicide in the past six years, which goes to show that we...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

Suicide is not a crime; it is a choice. For more than 700 people in any given year in Scotland, it represents the only choice—that last vestige of control th...

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) SNP

As someone who has gone through the trauma of acute poor mental health and who at one stage, a long time ago, made a cry-for-help attempt, I have some idea o...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

Excuse me, Mr Dornan. I am terribly sorry to interrupt you, but the broadcasting system is not picking you up properly, so could you shift your microphone?

James Dornan SNP

Do you want me to start again?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

No.

James Dornan SNP

It was worth a try, Presiding Officer. I apologise. Not only does that young lady have better mental health, but she has been given many strategies to cope ...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

The headlines on Tuesday 21 February 2017 read: “A RISING young rugby star has been found dead just days after being named ‘man of the match’ in a game that...

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) SNP

We must be grateful for that personal contribution from Finlay Carson. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Colleagues acros...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It is a privilege to speak in a debate on such an important issue. The debate has stimulated many thoughtful contributions. Speaker after speaker has rightly...

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con

I add my voice to the united message that this whole Parliament must send out today: every suicide—which is a tragedy for the individual involved, their fami...

Maureen Watt SNP

As I said in my opening speech, the Scottish Government is committed to continuing the strong downward trend in suicides. I am pleased that the desire to wor...