BBC Democracy Live - MSPs welcome suicide prevention strategy Public Health Minister Michael Matheson welcomed progress made in suicide prevention and the government's new strategy on the issue but conceded there was "still work to be done." Mr Matheson was leading the debate, focussing on the publication last month of the Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013-2016, on 21 December 2013. The strategy outlined five key areas: Responding to people in distress Talking about suicide Improving the NHS response to suicide Developing the evidence base Supporting change and improvement The most recent official statistics show there were 830 probable suicides in Scotland in 2012 with males accounting for almost three-quarters of those deaths. The minister highlighted the significant progress that has been made in recent years in suicide prevention, with an overall decrease of 18% in the suicide rate in the last decade and praised existing initiatives like "Choose Life." Mr Matheson said suicide prevention remained a "significant challenge" despite the progress that had been made, but stressed the strategy showed the high priority given to the issue by the government and the parliament. Scottish Labour health spokesperson Neil Findlay stressed the socioeconomic element to suicide, with Men and Suicide Why Its a Social Issue showing the poorer someone was the more likely they were to self harm or take their own life. Mr Findlay also pointed out the Scots were not the best at sharing their concerns about their inner feelings saying this was part of Scotland's character that needed to change. Nanette Milne, who speaks for the Conservatives on public health, talked about the dangers of social media and cyberbullying and the "tragic consequences" that could result from it. Ms Milne highlighted the case of Daniel Perry, from Dunfermline, who was 17 years old when he took his own life. He had been the victim of online sexual blackmail. It has also emerged the teenager had previously been urged to kill himself by anonymous users on the social media website ask.fm. Breathing Space and the Samaritans both provide support for those with concerns about suicide or mental health problems. Suicide prevention debate 2