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Service user Marius Samavicius launched an investigation into Glasgow’s mental health care (Image: Alasdair MacLeod\/Daily Record)<\/p>\nAlmost 2,500 died as a result of battles categorised under \u2018mental health\u2019 or \u2018self harm\u2019 over the last five years, while more than 1,300 lost their lives to alcohol and drugs across Glasgow.Service user Marius Samavicius launched an investigation into Glasgow’s mental health care (Image: Alasdair MacLeod\/Daily Record)<\/p>\n
Thousands of vulnerable Scots died within a year of being discharged from mental health care <\/a>in Scotland\u2019s biggest city, harrowing figures have revealed.<\/p>\n Almost 2,500 discharged patients have died as a result of mental health struggles or self harm in Glasgow <\/a>since 2020 – while more than 1,300 lost their lives to alcohol and drug abuse.<\/p>\n A campaigner who uncovered the \u201cheartbreaking\u201d figures<\/a> claims a lack of follow-up care may be contributing to \u201cthousands of preventable deaths\u201d.<\/p>\n Marius Samavicius, 33, said: \u201cBy relying on this narrow definition, the health board can dismiss two-thirds of these tragedies without ever asking if its own discharge process played a role.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NHS data writes off over 13,000 of these post-discharge deaths as \u2018natural causes\u2019 – a term that brings to mind unavoidable illnesses like cancer or old age. But this classification could hide a more disturbing possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many of those who died from a \u2018natural\u2019 heart attack were too depressed to seek help for chest pain? How many who succumbed to pneumonia were living in unsafe housing because their psychosis went untreated?<\/p>\n \u201cHow many died from complications of diabetes because their crippling anxiety prevented them from managing their condition? How many died from being rejected or missed a letter?<\/p>\n \u201cThe death certificate records the biological failure of the body. It is silent on the systemic failure that may have caused it. By relying on this narrow definition, the health board can dismiss two-thirds of these tragedies without ever asking if its own discharge process played a role.\u201d<\/p>\n Marius launched an investigation around the city\u2019s care services after a personal three-year battle for support.<\/p>\n The artist uncovered data on the deaths of 20,965 Scots discharged from mental health services between 2020 and 2024.<\/p>\n While natural causes account for the majority of deaths (13,538), mental health causes accounted for 2,283 deaths.<\/p>\n This category covers deaths officially attributed to mental or behavioural disorders, such as PTSD, dementia, schizophrenia, or substance misuse disorders.<\/p>\n Intentional self harm was responsible for 169 deaths, while 767 were alcohol-related and a further 541 linked to drugs.<\/p>\n External causes, such as accidents, violence or other injuries, accounted for 647 of the deaths.<\/p>\n Unspecified or unknown causes was the category given for 3,020 deaths.<\/p>\n The Freedom of Information data, which covers both inpatient wards and community services, also revealed that one in five quit therapy before it even began.<\/p>\n The monthly average is over 200 people dropping out before their first session.<\/p>\n Marius said: \u201cThe failure to hold onto patients begins even before discharge.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are people who have asked for help, been assessed as needing it, and then are lost by the system.<\/p>\n \u201cThe FOI response states there is no specific policy for monitoring welfare after discharge from services.\u201d<\/p>\n While NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provided a category breakdown of how almost 21,000 patients died, they said finding out whether discharged patients were vulnerable, high-risk, or refused care would be too costly.<\/p>\n Marius added: \u201cThe absence of this data means the NHS is operating in the dark. It cannot know if its policies are working or if they are funnelling the most vulnerable people out of the system and toward premature death.<\/p>\n \u201cThe real cost they are avoiding is the political and financial cost of admitting that their discharge processes and lack of follow-up care may be contributing to hundreds, if not thousands, of preventable deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"Marius](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2_AMP_SDR_080725_MARIUS_00001_copy.jpg\")
Marius demanded answers of the NHS(Image: Alasdair MacLeod\/Daily Record)<\/p>\n![\"Freedom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Psychological-consultation.jpg\")
Freedom of Information data laid bare thousands of deaths (Image: Shared Content Unit)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758299408_72_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
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Paul Sweeney MSP campaigns for better mental health care<\/p>\n