Scotland airs first suicide prevention TV advert

Scotland’s first ever suicide prevention advert has been broadcast on television. The advertisement shows a withdrawn young workman choking up the word suicide on to a pub table after a day at work in a warehouse.

The government-backed advert aims to break the silence around suicide and encourage people to talk about their feelings.

It targets men aged 18 to 44 after statistics showed they are at the greatest risk of killing themselves.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: “Helping people to break the silence surrounding suicide is vital – not just for those of us living with that kind of pain but all of us.

“Most people contemplating suicide do not want to die; they want to end the pain they are suffering.

“In many cases suicide can be prevented if people get the right help and support to see a way out of their situation.

“This campaign aims to encourage people to talk about the way they are feeling and to seek the vital help they need.”

Monica Merson, head of health and wellbeing at NHS Health Scotland, said: “By airing the advert later at night when we know men who are feeling suicidal are most likely to be alone and watching TV, we hope to convey the message that they’re not alone and that support is out there.

“But the first very difficult step is to talk about how they are feeling.”

Three out of four suicides in Scotland are men, and younger men are at the greatest risk.