A DUMBARTON mum, whose son would have turned 18 last week, joined with others to highlight a tragic rise in the number of Scottish suicides.

Lizzie Stewart lost her son Lee in May this year.

She said: “On May 14 this year we started as every day does, as a normal working family. We went off to work, school and college. By 4pm my whole life had been ripped apart. Lee had decided to take his own life.

“Lee would have turned 18 on October 14, and instead of buying him a car and having a party I have been left buying a headstone and paying for a funeral.

“My opinion since this has happened to our whole family is that children of all high school age should be taught as part of their curriculum about mental health wellbeing/suicide prevention and suicide impact. Mental ill health and suicide do not discriminate against gender, race or age. It can affect anyone at any time and more needs to be taught to our young generation that it is okay to feel low and not know why.”

Giant images of a green ribbon, the international symbol of mental health, were projected onto buildings in Glasgow on Tuesday, October 8, ahead of World Mental Health Day, on October 10, in support of this year’s suicide prevention theme.

People touched by suicide came together to highlight the number of suicides across Scotland, which claimed 784 lives in 2018.

Recent figures show Scotland now has the highest suicide rate in the UK, particularly shocking is the rise in the number of young people under 25, which had risen to 96 - its highest level since 2007.

Toni Guigliano, policy manager at Mental Health Foundation Scotland, said: “Scotland’s increasing suicide rate is both concerning and devastating.

“Our society is increasingly priding itself on self-reliance, families and communities are further apart, job insecurity is rising and our young people are under extreme pressures to succeed. These societal pressures are taking their toll on our mental health and both Scottish and UK Governments are not doing enough to give people the social safety net they need in times of hardship.

“We’ve repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to introduce mental health education in the schools.”

Anyone can contact Samaritans for free, anonymous and confidential emotional support, day or night. You can contact Samaritans by phoning on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.