North West suicide rate higher than average

Office for National Statistics

Figures recently published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the North West has one of highest suicide rates across Great Britain.

The National Statistics definition of suicide includes all deaths from intentional self-harm for persons aged 10 and over, and deaths where the intent was undetermined for those aged 15 and over.

In 2016, the North West figures of 10.5 per 100,000 people are above the national average of 10.1 per 100,000 people. The South West had the highest suicide rate for any English region at 11.2 per 100,000 people, whilst London had the lowest at 7.8 per 100,000 people.

The most common method in Great Britain in 2016 was hanging.

However, nationally, the average has fallen from the previous years’ figures.

There were 3.4% fewer suicides registered in 2016 than in 2015, a decrease from 5,870 deaths in 2015 to 5,688. Of those registered in 2016, there were 4,287 male and 1,381 female.

In comparison with 2015, the suicide rate has fallen by 3.1% for males and 9.4% for females in Great Britain; as such the current age-standardised suicide rate for Great Britain is 15.7 per 100,000 for males and 4.8 per 100,000 for females.

For deaths registered in 2016 in Great Britain, persons aged 40 to 44 had the highest age-specific suicide rate at 15.1 per 100,000 – this age group also had the highest rate among males at 23.7 per 100,000; the age group with the highest rate for females was 50 to 54 at 8.1 per 100,000.

In 1981, male deaths accounted for approximately 62.4% of all suicides registered. In succeeding years, as the overall numbers of suicides fell, there was a more prominent fall in numbers for females.

Therefore, the proportion of male suicides increased and has remained at approximately 75% of all suicides since the early 1990s.

If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans on 116 123 (UK and Republic of Ireland), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of the nearest branch.

Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.

Resources are also available online:

U can Cope includes a film and resources that are designed for people in distress and those trying to support them, to instill hope, promote appropriate self-help and inform people regarding useful strategies and how they can access help and support. 

Staying safe if you’re not sure life’s worth living includes practical, compassionate advice and many useful links for people in distress.