The number of young people taking their own lives has risen by 50 per cent in a year.
New figures also show poorer people are three times more likely to commit suicide than the wealthy.
The crisis was revealed after a spate of tragedies. 20, died at the weekend and , 21, was one of four young people from the same area who passed away within months of each other.
The huge increase in suicides among Scotland’s young people has led to calls for urgent action on mental health services.
Over all ages, there was about a 15 per cent rise in people taking their own lives, from 680 in 2017 to 784 last year.
The steepest rise was in the 15-24 age bracket. In 2017, there were 64 such suicides. Last year, that climbed to 96 – an increase of 50 per cent.
Of the 680 suicides in 2018, 581 were men.
Those living in the most deprived areas are three times more likely to take their own lives than those in the wealthiest.
The suicide rate in the poorest communities is 21.7 per 100,000, compared with seven per 100,000 in the least deprived.
Last night, opposition politicians blamed the rise in suicides on the Scottish Government’s “catastrophic response” to the need for better mental health services.
Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole Hamilton said: “Despite a general trend downwards in recent years, we have seen spikes in
suicides in Scotland over the past three years and that spike is accelerating.
“Most devastating is the 50 per cent increase in suicides in the 15-25 age group.
“That young people should be taking their lives in this way is a cruel reflection of Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
“In some parts of the country, vulnerable young people are waiting two years for first-line treatment.”
The most recent Government figures show just 73.6 per cent of children were seen in the regulation 13 weeks.
Cole-Hamilton added: “This is a catastrophic failure of our public policy response to the mental health crisis in this country.
“The Scottish Government cannot point to this as a statistical anomaly. These are real people whose lives have been cut short due to lack of attention afforded to these issues by the Government.”
Billy Watson, chief executive of mental health charity SAMH, said: “Today’s figures show we must redouble our efforts as a nation to deepen our understanding of the causes of suicide so we can help everyone who needs it.”
Mental Health Foundation Scotland director Lee Knifton said: “Each and every suicide is a tragedy which can be devastating and life-changing for those left behind.
“But we know that suicide is preventable and it’s vital that the Government and wider society continue to work together to prevent as many suicides as possible.”
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon pointed out the Government had pledged to reduce suicides by 20 per cent by 2022.
Lennon added: “These figures show things are getting worse, not better.
“We need action from Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to give our mental health services the resources they need to stop this tragic loss of life.”
Conservative mental health spokeswoman Annie Wells said while the Government had spent time talking about mental health, the figures show “that hasn’t been matched by action”.
She added: “We’ve gone backwards and the hundreds of people who took their own lives last year are a tragic testament to that.
“People with mental health problems, particularly young patients, are being forced to wait far too long for help and the consequence of this is now there for all to see.”
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “Any suicide is a tragedy and my heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and families of those who have been affected.
“We remain committed to building on the overall 19 per cent decrease in suicide rates in Scotland between 2004-2008 and 2014-2018.
“Alongside mental health and suicide prevention groups, we are working to raise public awareness and improve crisis support services for at-risk groups. We have established a National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group.
“We want to create a Scotland where anyone contemplating suicide gets the support they need.
“We will undertake more research to establish the underlying reasons for the increase in 2018.”
