New figures show death rates decreased by 12% last year

There were 746 such deaths, 97 fewer than in 2008. The number of male deaths was nearly three times higher than women, with more than half of the total number of suicides, 549, carried out by men and 197 by women.

Two-thirds of deaths were caused by intentional self harm while less than one-third classed as undetermined intent.

The highest number of suicides last year occurred in the Glasgow City council area, with 116 such deaths, followed by Edinburgh with 64.

Around three-quarters of all probable suicides involved men, 74 per cent last year and between 72 per cent and 77 per cent in every year since 1990.

In the past five years, the largest number of suicides have been among people aged 40 to 44, followed by those aged 35 to 39.

Poverty, drug and alcohol misuse, bereavement and marital breakdown were all pinpointed as contributing factors in the data, released by the General Register Office for Scotland.