SUICIDE levels more than doubled in East Ayrshire last year.

There were 26 suspected suicides between January and November 2018 , compare with 12 suicide deaths in 2017.

The devastating news comes as health chiefs announce an investigation into the most recent 50 cases of people who took their own lives.

Council leader Douglas Reid described it as a “serious issue.”

He said: “This authority is really concerned about the increasing spike in our community.”

He told a meeting of full council last week there is a drive to find out “what is behind this.”

Councillor Reid also called for a “greater understanding of the problem to prevent incidents.”

Health and social care partnership director Eddie Fraser told councillors at the meeting: “Every suicide in East Ayrshire is an absolute tragedy and we want to intervene and prevent.”

He added: “In the past two years we have seen an increase in East Ayrshire.”

Updating councillors, he said the last 50 suicides are being reviewed.

Councillor Iain Linton said: “The age profile of those taking their own lives is of concern to me.”

Echoing his concern, Mr Fraser said: “We feel it particularly when we see young people taking their own lives.”

Among the recent suicides, one person was aged 79 while the youngest was a teenager, Mr Fraser told full council.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858, Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393, Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41 or Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123