Suicide rates registered in England and Wales highest in more than two decades

Suicide rates registered in England and Wales last year were the highest in more than two decades, new data shows.

Around three-quarters of deaths by suicide were among males, the Office for National Statistics said, noting this has been the case since the mid-1990s.

But while the rate for women was lower, it was at its highest last year since 1994.

The ONS said its work monitoring registrations of deaths by suicide is part of an ongoing effort to “support work to protect vulnerable people at risk”, acknowledging the “devastating impact on individuals, families and communities”.

Samaritans said the current situation should treated as a “public health crisis”.

There were 6,069 suicides registered in the two nations in 2023, up from 5,642 in 2022.

Figures are based on deaths registered in each calendar year, rather than the date on which the death took place.

The ONS said that, due to registration delays, while 39% of deaths registered in 2023 had a date of death in the same year, more than half (51%) occurred in 2022 and the rest happened in 2021 or earlier.

Last year’s rate of 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people was the highest rate seen since 1999, the ONS said.

The 2023 rate in Wales – 14.0 deaths per 100,000 – was higher than England’s, which was 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people.

Across the two nations, the suicide rate for males rose to the highest since 1999, at 17.4 deaths per 100,000.

The rate for females grew from 5.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2022 to 5.7 deaths per 100,000 last year – the highest rate for females in almost 30 years.

The rate was highest for men aged 45 to 49, at 25.5 deaths per 100,000, and for women aged 50 to 54 years, at 9.2 deaths per 100,000.

In England, the rate was highest in the North West, at 14.7 deaths per 100,000.

It was lowest in London where there were 7.3 deaths per 100,000.

Vahe Nafilyan, head of data and analysis for social care and health at the ONS, said: “Our figures show suicide rates registered in England and Wales in 2023 were the highest in nearly 25 years. Rates increased across all age groups compared to 2022, especially among those aged 45 to 64 years.

“Males continued to account for around three-quarters of deaths by suicide, a trend seen since the mid-1990s.

“Suicide rates either increased or remained unchanged in each of the nine English regions, but the North West saw the largest rise.

“Suicide leaves a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities, and we will continue to monitor suicide registrations, to support work to protect vulnerable people at risk.”

Jacqui Morrissey, from Samaritans, described the latest figures as “shocking” and “even worse than expected” as she called on the Government to take action on the “public health crisis”.

“Local areas must not be left scrabbling around for the funding they need to save lives, with a deadly north-south divide now opening up as rates in the North West hit twice that of London.

“The autumn Budget is a chance for this Government to break its silence and commit to proper investment for suicide prevention with the same ambition that we have seen drive down smoking rates. These figures are the final wake-up call: suicide is preventable but not without real action.”

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Every suicide is a tragedy and these figures show a clearly worrying trend, which this Government is committed to reversing.

“We know that people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need. That’s why we will fix our broken health system to ensure that we give mental health the attention and focus it deserves.

“Alongside acting to improve mental health support, we will work across government to tackle the underlying causes of unequal health outcomes including suicide, across the country.”

Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or at https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/.

Published: 29/08/2024 by Radio NewsHub