Key points from article :
Suicide rates in England and Wales have reached their highest level since 1999, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2023, there were 6,069 registered suicides, up from 5,642 in 2022. This increase has prompted the charity Samaritans to call on the government to treat suicide as a public health crisis and invest in prevention efforts with the same commitment as it has for reducing smoking rates. The figures reveal that three-quarters of the suicides were male, and the female suicide rate was the highest since 1994. Notably, the suicide rate for men aged 45 to 49 was significantly higher at 25.5 per 100,000, compared to 17.4 per 100,000 for men overall, and 5.7 per 100,000 for women across England and Wales.
The data also showed an increase in suicide rates across all age groups, with a significant rise among those aged 45 to 64. Regional variations were observed, with suicide rates either increasing or remaining unchanged across the nine English regions; however, London had the lowest suicide rate of any region in England. The north-west region experienced the largest rise in suicide rates. This worrying trend has led to urgent calls from mental health advocates for the government to prioritize suicide prevention as a critical area of public health policy.
The Department for Health and Social Care acknowledged the concerning increase in suicides, highlighting that people with mental health issues are not receiving adequate support. The government expressed a commitment to reversing the trend by improving mental health services and addressing the underlying causes of unequal health outcomes, including suicide. However, Samaritans emphasized that without substantial investment and a strategic approach to suicide prevention, the rates may continue to rise, underscoring the need for immediate action to save lives.
