Convener Johann Lamont reads out a statement from Gillian Murray, who is unable to attend today.

While Ms Murray welcomes the inquiry into NHS Tayside's mental health services, but she says the "failures" do not seem to be unique to Tayside.

I do not want another family to go through what I went through, Ms Murray writes.

Ms Murray has since been diagnosed with PTSD.

She writes that she has received zero help from the NHS.

"How can it be acceptable that my uncle was failed and now I am being failed?" Ms Lamont quotes.

Time after time I pleaded for help but was turned away and on 29 December I woke to see Luke hanging from the stairs, Ms McKeown tells the committee.

"The events of that night shattered my world."

Ms McKeown says she was told correct procedure was followed by not admitting Luke to hospital.

"I'd like to see a review of the mental health service."

Lessons must be learned and crisis support must be available at all times and family concerns must be listened to, she insists.

It's my duty to Luke an my children to campaign for this, she concludes.

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Johann Lamont welcomes Karen McKeown and asks her to make an opening statement.

Ms McKeown begins saying: "Luke was my best friend, he was my partner, he was my soulmate."

She adds he was a great father to their two children.

"This was a preventable death."

Ms McKeown explains Luke began to hear voices in his head and details the rapid decline in his mental health and how they tried to get help between 23 December and 29 December 2017, to no avail.

She says she begged every service to help.

"Every time we were turned away and abandoned."

A Lanarkshire woman said her partner took his own life after asking for medical help eight times in the week leading up to his death.

Karen McKeown claimed hospital staff dismissed concerns about Luke Henderson's mental state shortly before he killed himself.

Now she is calling for a review of mental health services in Scotland.

Ministers said they wanted to reduce suicide rates and Mr Henderson's death had been investigated.

Read more here.

The petitions committee is hearing from Karen McKeown, whose partner Luke Henderson took his own life after asking for medical help eight times.

Image source, Karen McKeown/Gillian Murray

The Public Petition Committee will shortly take evidence on a petition calling for a full review of mental health service provision across Scotland, external.

Karen McKeown is the partner of Luke Henderson, who took his own life. Ms McKeown says medical staff "dismissed" concerns about Luke.

The petition has been jointly brought by Ms McKeown and Gillian Murray, whose uncle David Ramsay died after being turned away from mental health services.

Read the committee papers here., external

Image source, bbc

MSPs agree it would be good to get the health secretary in to give evidence.

SNP MSP Angus MacDonald points out there were significant concerns from rural GPs before the contract.

"There are quite a number of questions that need to be answered by the government."

The committee agrees to ask Jeane Freeman to come before the committee.

Turning to PE1705 on Wildlife crime - penalties and investigation, external, the committee agrees to refer the petition to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Plans to tackle staff shortages in key areas across the NHS in Scotland have been delayed again.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman had said she would publish a full integrated workforce plan by the end of last year, but BBC Scotland understands there is not yet a date set for its publication.

There are well-documented problems in recruiting and retaining NHS staff but for rural and remote areas like Caithness it is especially tough.

With a population of around 26,000 and covering 700 square miles, Caithness is one of the most hard to reach parts of mainland Scotland. The drive from Wick or Thurso to Inverness is more than 100 miles.

Four years ago, Caithness General Hospital in Wick was placed on enhanced monitoring because of a lack of senior staff.

Read more.

The committee agrees to hold a round table session on PE1678 on National strategic framework for Countryside Ranger Services in Scotland, external.

Ms Lamont pivots to PE1698 on Medical care in rural areas, external.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle says the health committee is doing a piece of work looking at the GP contract and has heard from rural GPs.

Image source, bbc

Mr Whittle believes there is an issue withe the contract in rural practices.

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant agrees and says she believes most rural GPs were against the contract.

Recently retired doctors are being recruited by Scotland's NHS to fill gaps in rural areas.

Image source, bbc

MSPs start with agenda item 2 and consider the following petitions:

• PE1678 on National strategic framework for Countryside Ranger Services in Scotland, external
• PE1698 on Medical care in rural areas, external
• PE1705 on Wildlife crime - penalties and investigation, external

The Public Petition Committee will shortly take evidence on a petition calling for a full review of mental health service provision across Scotland, external.

Karen McKeown is the partner of Luke Henderson, who took his own life. Ms McKeown says medical staff "dismissed" concerns about Luke.

The petition has been jointly brought by Ms McKeown and Gillian Murray, whose uncle David Ramsay died after being turned away from mental health services.

Read the committee papers here., external

Welcome to Holyrood Live on Thursday 4 April 2019.

The petitions committee will hear from the partner of Luke Henderson, who died by suicide in 2017, who is calling for a full review of mental health services in Scotland.

Image source, BBC/PA

First minister's questions will kick off at noon following general questions.

Then Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton will lead a member's debate on declining salmon stocks.

And afternoon of transport awaits as ministers face portfolio questions, before MSPs debate the Transport (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.