Ministers have been urged to treat suicide as a public health crisis after suicide rates in England and Wales reached their highest level in more than two decades.
The official figuresDescribed by suicide prevention organisation Samaritans as “worse than expected”, the report showed that 6,069 suicides were recorded in both countries in 2023, up from 5,642 in 2022 and the highest rate since 1999.
Three-quarters of deaths were men, but the suicide rate among women reached its highest level since 1994, annual figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
“The rates have increased across all age groups compared to 2022, particularly among those aged 45 to 64,” said Vahe Nafilyan, head of data and analysis for social care and health at the ONS.
“Suicide rates rose or remained the same in each of the nine English regions, but the North West saw the biggest increase. Suicide has a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities, and we will continue to monitor suicide records to support work to protect vulnerable people at risk.”
Jacqui Morrissey, assistant director of advocacy at Samaritans, said: “Based on these figures, more than 900 people will have committed suicide in the 55 days since the new government came to power, but while we heard straight away about plans for more wind turbines, it is suicide prevention that has been ignored. The government needs to get its priorities right, because lives depend on it.”
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Samaritans called on Finance Minister Rachel Reeves to “commit to appropriate investment in suicide prevention with the same ambition we have seen in reducing smoking rates”.
Morrissey said: “These figures are the final wake-up call: suicide is preventable, but not without real action.”
London had the lowest suicide rate of any region in England. The suicide rate for women in England and Wales was 5.7 per 100,000 people. The rate for men was 17.4 per 100,000, but rose to 25.5 for men aged 45 to 49.
The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.