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In May Scotland's then health secretary said she understood why the families of suicide victims wanted answers over the lack of mental health support.

Shona Robison, who has since been replaced by Jeane Freeman as health secretary, was speaking ahead of a Holyrood debate calling for a public inquiry into mental health services in NHS Tayside.

An independent probe has been ordered into the Carseview Centre in Dundee, but families say that is not enough.

Mr Robison insisted the views of families would be heard.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: "I have met with families in Dundee and indeed elsewhere who have lost loved ones to suicide and they want answers, and if those answers can be given then this inquiry should seek to do that."

The minister also said that the inquiry, announced by the new chairman of NHS Tayside John Brown "should seek to look at where services need to be improved" at not only Carseview but the whole of the area.

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The spotlight fell on mental health services in Tayside after the case of David Ramsay was raised at First Minister's Questions last week.

The 50-year-old took his own life in 2016 after twice being turned away from the Carseview unit in Dundee.

His niece Gillian Murray campaigs for improvements to the system, alongside other bereaved families and has called for a "full, independent and impratial public inquiry".

Read more here.

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Mr Cole-Hamilton shares his "personal experience of taking a sucidal relative to a psychiatric ward" and the trauma he experienced of being a first responder to a man who took his own life.

He highlights the tragic case of David Ramsay who also took his own life and the tireless campaigning of his necie Gillian Murraqy on the issue since.

In May NHS bosses ordered an independent inquiry into a psychiatric unit following the case of Mr Ramsay who killed himself after being refused admission.

David Ramsay, 50, took his own life in 2016 just days after twice being sent home from the Carseview centre at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Nicola Sturgeon was questioned by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard over the case at Holyrood during FMQs.

NHS Tayside announced the care provided by Carseview will be reviewed.

Mr Ramsay's family has been campaigning for a full public inquiry into mental health provision in NHS Tayside, with his niece Gillian Murray at the forefront of the campaign.

Read more here.

If you are feeling emotionally distressed and would like details of organisations which offer advice and support, go online to bbc.co.uk/actionlineor you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information 0800 066 066.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says he surprised Gary Robertson on BBC Scotland's GMS by welcoming the action plan on the day of its publication, suggesting the presenter might have been expecting "more fisticuffs".

He tells the chamber he repeatedly called for this strategy as we have waited 16 months for it.

"All told 1,000 of our fellow Scots have died in that intervening period."

He adds: "I ascribe no blame in that."

"It is really good to see this strategy finally in place."

Ms Fee notes the majority of people who take their own lives are male and live in poverty.

She insists on an end to austerity, saying it is at the heart of "shameful welfare changes" which have driven the loss of life.

This is because changes have led to people being pushed into poverty Ms Fee asserts.

Investment in CAMHS and all mental health staff will play and key part in suicide prevention, the Labour MSP concludes.

Ms Fee insists the plan should have been introduced sooner.

She also says the new mental health investment announced in the programme for government "only goes to far".

Effective and adequate levels of funding are required if we are to create parity between mental and physical health, the Labour MSP argues.

Early intervention is key to suicide prevention which is why children and young people must have appropriate support, she states.

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Labour MSP Mary Fee thanks all the people and organisations who contributed to the suicide prevention action plan.

Every level of government, every public service and every community must reach out to help those considering suicide, she says.

The Labour MSP retierates the title of the action plan "Every Life Matters" and stresses this.

She regrets the CAMHs waiting times and stresses concerns about the rate of suicide in young men, but welcomes the target set by the government to reduce the rate of suicide by 20% by 2020.

There must be funding to back the plan, she insists.

Ms Wells says the cost of training new staff alone will be substantial and it is unclear as to whether the funding given to the leadership group will be expected to cover its recommendations.

Suicide prevention is more than just policy, but it is also about promoting it and looking at what we can do as individuals she states.

She also insists that various charities must have the funding to continue their invaluable work in mental health.

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• The Samaritans operate a 24-hour service available every day of the year on116 123. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, you can email atjo@samaritans.org.
• Childline runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK on0800 11 11. Calls are free and the number does not show up on your phone bill.
• PAPYRUS is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal. You can call them on0800 068 41 41.

SOURCE:NHS -for more information click here, external.

One death by suicide will always be one too many, Ms Wells says.

She supports the target to further reduce the suicide rate by 20% but expresses concern about how the suicide prevention plan will be delivered.

The Tory MSP says the majority of the action in the strategy will be delivered by the suicide prevention leadership group, which means there is "still much to be decided in terms of detail".

How empowered will the group be to make decisions independently and who will be accountable, she asks.

The minister intervenes to emphasise the group will publish its work plan in December and the parliament will be updated on its work annually.

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Tory MSP Annie Wellls says: "We owe it to those who have lost their lives in this tragic way to be united in the chamber today."

Ms Wells calls for MSPs to help make the suicide action prevention plan the best it can be.

"Scotland has been without a suicide prevention strategy for some time, over a year and a half."

Ms Wells says it is worrying that Scotland still has the highest suicide rate in Britain and she highlights the rise in male suicides.

The step change we want to achieve requires us to be more focused and work at pace, says Ms Haughey.

Collaborative leadership is at the heart of the approach, which is why we have established a suicide prevention leadership group, she explains.

Members of this group will be drawn from the third, public and private sector, as well as include those with personal experience.

Ms Haughey confirms former deputy chief constable of Police Scotland Rose Fitzpatrick has agreed to chair the group.

An additional £3m was announced in June to help reduce the suicide rate, which among other measures will be used to support those bereaved by suicide she confirms.

The mental health minister says the leadership group work plan will be published in December, and recommendations will be made in 2019.

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Here's some of the actions from the government's Suicide Prevention Action Plan:

• The Scottish government has set a target of reducing the country's suicide rate by 20% by 2022
• refreshed mental health training for the public and private sectors, including for all NHS staff, by May 2019
• reviews of all deaths by suicide so lessons can be learned
• a new national suicide prevention leadership group, to be in place by Septembe
• development of innovative use of digital technology to prevent suicidenew public awareness campaigns
• new public awareness campaigns

• Read the full action plan here, external

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Ms Haughey says the scope of the action plan shows the determination to bring about a step change in suicide prevention in Scotland.

The mental health minister says people affected by suicide are not alone and suicide has been destigamatised.

She says this will be evidenced by the target to reduce the level of suicide by 20% by 2020.

This target is not to be seen as an endpoint, but a marker on the journey to fewer suicides she explains.

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The minister says there need to be better support to those affected by suicide.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur warns that in smaller rural communities the impact of a suicide can be profound and calls for training to be available to the third sector.

Ms Haughey acknowledges this point.

She stresses that the plan includes veterans and all armed forces personnel and they must have access to the best medical care.