What we do know is that more than 600 people take their own lives in Scotland each year. In fact, suicide is now the leading cause of death in young men between 18 and 35.

Scotland?s suicide rate is much higher than the UK?s when taken as a whole. This is in addition to our unenviable position of having one of Europe?s highest rates of increase in suicide. So why should this be? There is no easy answer. Poverty, significant events in life, mental health problems or low self-esteem and self-worth, and finding it hard to talk about feelings or to ask for help - all possible contributory factors.

As someone who has worked in the mental health field for many years, I have known a number of people who have taken their own lives. One had become my friend and she was loved and admired by many people. She wrote poetry and she loved music and I still have all the tapes she made for me. Songs that sometimes helped her chill out, but which mostly reinforced her pain.

She was intelligent and talented, tall and beautiful, with a mane of long, curly hair. Everyone who knew her saw these things but she could never see them for herself. Inside, all she felt was black.

Carol was 28 when she finally succeeded in taking her own life. As well as immense grief, those of us who knew her were struck by such a sense of futility and waste. She left a big hole in all our lives and, ironically, the church was not big enough to accommodate all those who attended her funeral.

As with Carol, for every person who ends his or her life, there will be many people left behind who will be devastated by their death and whose lives will never be the same again. The news that someone you know has died as a result of suicide is likely to come as a brutal shock.

The Scottish Executive has recognised the need to tackle this difficult issue. In December 2002, it launched "Choose Life - A National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland", which aims to reduce the rate of people committing suicide in Scotland by 20 per cent.

One of its seven key objectives is about providing effective support to people who are affected by suicide. This might include:

? Trained professionals providing support, counselling or other services;

? The establishment of local support groups and self-help groups;

? Making support available for organisations and institutions to help in the aftermath of a suicide where, for example, a school pupil or university student is involved.

Scotland?s local authorities have been given the lead role in co-ordinating the development and implementation of local action plans to ensure that the national strategy is put into effect locally, taking account of the particular needs of each area. To be effective, they must work in partnership with other agencies such as the NHS, voluntary organisations, educational bodies, emergency services and others who have a shared interest in making the strategy work.

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) became aware of the need for information for people affected by suicide as a result of calls to our information service. We recently launched a booklet, After a Suicide, in response to that need. As well as providing useful practical information about issues such as funeral expenses, it suggests coping strategies, and signposts people to organisations which might be able to help.

Most of the work SAMH does would be more properly considered to be about prevention. One example of this is our annual One in Four Festival - a music festival that helps raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage open and honest discussion about these. Now in its third year, it takes its name from the fact that one in four of us will need help with a mental health problem at some point in our lives.

This year One in Four is collaborating with Ten Days in May, a music festival now taking place in Glasgow until 30 May and run by the organisers of T in the Park. We have written a booklet which is being handed out at the gigs, along with a free CD, featuring exclusive tracks from some of Scotland?s leading musicians. As well as aiming to raise awareness and challenge stigma, the booklet offers practical information and advice on looking after yourself and what to do if you or someone you know needs help.

SAMH is also a major service provider with a range of services throughout Scotland working to promote hope and recovery and tackle the causes and consequences of mental health problems. These include poverty, stigma, exclusion, discrimination and abuse.

A significant number of people who use our services have contemplated or attempted suicide at some time in their lives and some are also trying to cope with self-harm. Very occasionally, someone who uses or has used our services has committed suicide. The effect on staff and fellow service users is devastating.

It is crucial that we achieve a significant reduction in deaths by suicide in Scotland. We must also do our utmost to ensure that the painful experience of families affected by suicide is at least tempered by having easy access to clear, concise and practical information and a path to the necessary support.

Copies of After A Suicide can be obtained by calling SAMH on 0141 568 7000, between 2pm and 4.30pm on weekdays, or by visiting www.samh.org.uk

Shona Barcus is the chief executive of the Scottish Association for Mental Health

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