New figures released yesterday stated that there has been a 12 per cent decline in the number of suicides in Scotland.

Last year the number of such deaths was 746 and in 2008 there were 97 more added to this figure. Men were more prone to suicides as the number of male deaths was nearly three times higher than women.

There were 549 male deaths and 197 suicides committed by women.

Intentional self harm caused about two-thirds of deaths and undetermined intent was seen in one-third.

The Glasgow City council area witnessed the highest number of suicides last year with about 116 such deaths, and Edinburgh followed next with 64.

The largest number of suicides has taken place in people who were aged 40 to 44 in the past five years, next were people who were aged 35 to 39.

According to the General Register Office for Scotland, the prime reasons of suicides were drugs, poverty, bereavement, alcohol misuse, and marital breakdown.

Those who were more prone to committing a suicide were children in care, young men, people with mental health problems and prisoners.