The results of a study which shows people who have served in the Armed Forces for a short time are at increased risk of self-harm, have been described as "worrying" by an MSP.

Maurice Corry, the Conservative spokesman on veteran affairs, was commenting on research carried by the University of Glasgow.

It analysed the long-term risks of non-fatal self-harm, serious enough to warrant hospital admission, in all veterans living in Scotland who served between 1960 and 2012, in comparison with non-veterans.

The study found that although, overall, the veterans were at increased risk of self-harm, the risk reduced steadily with longer service, suggesting that the biggest risk factors come from people’s pre-service life and that longer military service is protective.

Mr Corry, who has been working to develop a centre of excellence for mental health at the Vale of Leven Hospital, said: “I commend the work of the study conducted by Glasgow University, yet find the results worrying.

"It is an area I have paid much attention to since being elected. I have been working in developing a plan for a centre of excellence for mental health at the Vale of Leven to provide drop-in services for people needing support.

"This would provide mental health services for everyone in our society, which is greatly under catered for currently.

"The MOD have closed their last mental health services in Scotland, so I encourage them to partner with the NHS to provide these much needed facilities.”

Mr Corry, who was a major in the Black Watch, retired from the Royal Regiment of Scotland in September 2009.

He served as Argyll and Bute's armed forces champion while a Conservative councillor for Lomond North.

The university study's lead researcher Dr Beverly Bergman said: “This is an important study which provides the first insight into an important area of veterans’ mental health."

It used data from the Scottish Veterans Health Study to examine hospital admissions due to non-fatal self-harm.