The First Minister was accused of ignoring demands for a public inquiry into Tayside mental health services, which grieving families say have failed their loved ones.
Relatives of a suicide victim from Dundee were in the public gallery when Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard challenged Nicola Sturgeon on the deaths at First Minister’s Questions.
David Ramsay, 50, was found hanged in Templeton Woods in October 2016.
His family, who are also seeking a fatal accident inquiry, say David had been turned away twice from Carseview Centre, despite making suicide attempts.
In The Courier earlier this year, Mr Leonard made a call for an inquiry into the way Carseview Centre operates, in the wake of a series of suicides linked with failures at the facility.
Mr Leonard: “Tragically David’s story and the experience of his family is not unique in Dundee.
“When I was in Dundee in March I backed the call by families for a public inquiry into mental health services at NHS Tayside.
“First minister, why has your government remained silent on this crisis and silent on this demand for a public inquiry?”
The SNP leader issued “deep condolences” to the family.
She added: “I don’t think it is right or fair to say the government has remained silent. I know the health secretary has visited Carseview on a number of occasions.
“The Mental Welfare Commission, as I understand it carried out an unannounced inspection of Carseview in March and made a number of recommendations.”
“Let me be very clear…we expect NHS Tayside to fully respond to those recommendations within three months and they have also been shared with Healthcare Improvement Scotland.”
