The causes and consequences of suicide are complex and there are many myths
and misunderstandings associated with the subject. Raising awareness of the
complexities and encouraging responsible reporting can help prevent suicide.
The suicide rate in the UK is continuing to fall. However, the number of suicides is
still a concern. It is estimated that in England and Wales, at least 140,000 people go
to hospital each year having attempted suicide.
How many suicides and attempted suicides are there each year?
Although the overall rate of death by suicide is falling, more than 4,300 people still die by suicide in England and Wales each year.
Many more suicide attempts are made. At least one person in every 100 who ends up in hospital after a suicide attempt will succeed within a year, and up to five per cent do so over the following decade.
A British study found that women who have a history of deliberate self-harm (including overdose) are 15 times more likely to die by suicide compared with other women. The risk is particularly high during the six months following deliberate self-harm.
Suicide rates are higher for men than women of all age groups, and currently men are almost three times more likely than women to die by suicide.
The gender difference in the suicide rate is particularly striking for young people. Between the ages of 20 and 24 years, men are more than four times more likely than women to kill themselves. Which group has the lowest risk of suicide? Young women in the 15-24 year age group are at the lowest risk.
The likelihood of a person dying by suicide depends on several factors:
• mental and physical illness
• social problems: particularly family stress, separation, divorce, social isolation, death of a loved one and unemployment
• ease of access to the means of suicide. According to a World Health Organization working group, there is ample evidence that social conditions that are liable to change (such as the constant risk of losing one's job) are among the determinants of suicide.
Alcohol and drug misuse can also influence suicide risk.
Rates of drug and alcohol consumption are higher among men than women, and are particularly high among younger people.
Safer Services reported that one in four people who took their own lives - about 1,000 people each year - were subsequently found to have been in contact with specialist mental health services in the year before death.
Depression In the case of depression, studies have shown that, on average, the risk of suicide is about 15 times higher than the average for the general population.
However, this is likely to be an underestimate, as many who die by suicide may have been experiencing undiagnosed depressive illness.
Taken from the website: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/documents/related-documents/news-and-events/reporting-guidelines/reporting-suicides/105-suicide-factsheet/file
How many suicides and attempted suicides are there each year?
Although the overall rate of death by suicide is falling, more than 4,300 people still die by suicide in England and Wales each year.
Many more suicide attempts are made. At least one person in every 100 who ends up in hospital after a suicide attempt will succeed within a year, and up to five per cent do so over the following decade.
A British study found that women who have a history of deliberate self-harm (including overdose) are 15 times more likely to die by suicide compared with other women. The risk is particularly high during the six months following deliberate self-harm.
Suicide rates are higher for men than women of all age groups, and currently men are almost three times more likely than women to die by suicide.
The gender difference in the suicide rate is particularly striking for young people. Between the ages of 20 and 24 years, men are more than four times more likely than women to kill themselves. Which group has the lowest risk of suicide? Young women in the 15-24 year age group are at the lowest risk.
The likelihood of a person dying by suicide depends on several factors:
• mental and physical illness
• social problems: particularly family stress, separation, divorce, social isolation, death of a loved one and unemployment
• ease of access to the means of suicide. According to a World Health Organization working group, there is ample evidence that social conditions that are liable to change (such as the constant risk of losing one's job) are among the determinants of suicide.
Alcohol and drug misuse can also influence suicide risk.
Rates of drug and alcohol consumption are higher among men than women, and are particularly high among younger people.
Safer Services reported that one in four people who took their own lives - about 1,000 people each year - were subsequently found to have been in contact with specialist mental health services in the year before death.
Depression In the case of depression, studies have shown that, on average, the risk of suicide is about 15 times higher than the average for the general population.
However, this is likely to be an underestimate, as many who die by suicide may have been experiencing undiagnosed depressive illness.
Taken from the website: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/documents/related-documents/news-and-events/reporting-guidelines/reporting-suicides/105-suicide-factsheet/file
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