A YOUNG woman who attempted to take her own life 20 times has warned suicides in deprived areas will rise without action. 

It comes as the National Records of Scotland released new figures showing that 2019 had the highest rate of suicide in eight years. 

Stephanie Craig, 20, attempted to take her own life after years of emotional and sexual abuse from a young age. 

READ MORE: 'He died and no one came to tell me': Widow discovered husband dead in hospital bed

Now she has warned that the number of people committing suicide will continue to rise without action to tackle the scourge. 

Penilee-born Stephanie said the data was "screaming" that there needs to be more support for young people and suggested the pandemic may lead to more devastating losses. 

She said: "It’s alarming that the numbers have increased this much in just a year and that is without a pandemic. There needs to be more support and interventions put into place.

"There needs to be more focus on improving access to supports, especially in deprived areas where if we look closely we will see the numbers are higher in deprived areas and are rising.

“Society is facing more pressures than ever and with young people or young adults they have more stresses, more pressures and social media again will play a huge role in people who are struggling.

READ MORE: The TWO areas with the highest Covid-19 cases in Glasgow in the last seven days

“It’s also worth mentioning that children and young adults are facing more pressures with education, there are not enough supports in schools to cope with the high demand for children and young people needing support.

Stephanie advises the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSLPG) as a person with lived experience of suicidal attempts. 

The group was formed in 2018 to help implement the Scottish government's suicide prevention programme, bringing together the expertise of people with lived, academic and professional experience with suicide.

The NSPLG Rose Fitzpatrick said that every one of the 833 deaths recorded as suicide was "a tragedy" and offered the group's "heartfelt condolences" to the families affected. 

She added: "Suicide is a complex issue and one which, as the 6% increase reported today (following a 15% increase in 2018) shows all too clearly, continues to challenge us in Scotland and elsewhere to do more to support the wellbeing, mental health and life circumstances of those at risk. 

READ MORE: Man flown to Glasgow hospital after hillwalking date ends in five-hour rescue operation

"We must, of course, take care not to overinterpret a single year’s data, but we also see today that while men continue to make up three-quarters of those lost to suicide, last year saw an increase in the rate of suicide among young people in their early twenties. We strongly believe that no loss of life to suicide should be considered inevitable and that every one of us can help."

Men accounted for nearly three-quarters of probable suicides in 2019, a similar proportion to every year since the late 1980s.

Nearly a third of all probable suicides were of people aged between 45 and 59. Over the last five years, the proportion of probable suicides was largest in the 45-49 age group. This is a shift in age group from the late 1990s when the largest proportions were for people in their late 20s and early 30s.

READ MORE: Martial arts fan choked and raped lover after Necropolis date

The Samaritans have joined in calls for action to be taken to tackle "concerning" rates of suicides.

The executive director of the suicide prevention charity, Rachel Cackett, said: "It is important to recognise that today’s data only covers 2019 and it is still too early to know what the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be on mental health and wellbeing. 

"But by taking action, here and now, to renew and redouble their commitment to suicide prevention, government and services can help to reduce future risk.”