A woman whose uncle took his own life is spearheading a petition calling for better mental health treatment.
Gilly Murray, 29, of Dundee, wants an overhaul of NHS services across Scotland following the death of her uncle David Ramsay, 50, in 2016.
He had twice been turned away from hospital and refused entry to the Carseview Psychiatric Centre in Dundee.
At present a Fatal Accident inquiry (FAI) is not automatically held if a patient takes their own life in a secure unit.
Gilly has joined forces with fellow campaigner Karen McKeown, who lost her partner to suicide, to call for an FAI to be held as a matter of course if someone commits suicide within three months of contact with mental health services.
Gilly said: “We are aware that this is happening not just at NHS Tayside but across the country.
“There needs to be a review of mental health services across Scotland.
“There has been case after case and as long as people bury their heads in the sand lessons will not be learnt.
“How can it be that a criminal in jail dies there is a FAI and yet someone dies in a secure mental health unit there is no automatic FAI?”
Karen’s partner Luke Henderson was found dead at their home in Bellshill in December 2017.
It came after he had sought help for his mental health problems eight times in the previous week.
They had spoken to 11 different medical professionals at NHS 24, A&E units and GP surgeries around North Lanarkshire, but they were turned away.
Gilly and Karen’s shared experienced led to them contacting each other and the petition sprang from their talks.
They intend to launch their call for change on Tuesday and will present the completed document to MSPs.
Last year Gilly took part in an inquiry into mental health services in Tayside.
It was ordered following a campaign by families who claim care standards at Carseview are to blame for a number of incidents and suicides.
Nearly 200 people made submissions to the inquiry held at the end of 2018.
It has been claimed by campaigners that at least 10 suicides could have been prevented with better help provided by the mental health unit.
Visit www.parliament.scot to sign the petition from Tuesday.
