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12/12/2003
Suicide rates in England drop by 3%
Suicide rates in England have fallen by more than 3% in three years, according to figures released today.
Death rates from suicide and "undetermined injury" between 2000 to 2002 have fallen to 8.9 deaths per 100,000 population, which marks a reduction of 3.2% from the baseline rate in 1995 to 1997 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
From September 1998 pack sizes of paracetamol and aspirin have been reduced in order to reduce the incidence of "impulsive overdose", which it is thought has had an impact on the figures.
Although the overall rate of suicide is falling, there are still around 4,500 deaths from suicide in England each year. Over 1,300 young men between the ages of 19 and 35 take their own life each year in England – suicide has now overtaken road accidents as the biggest killer of young men in this age group.
The figures were contained in the first annual report outlining progress with implementation of England's national suicide prevention strategy.
The government's 'Our Healthier Nation' target is to help reduce suicides to 7.4 deaths per 100,000 population by 2009/10/11.
If the trend of the last 10 years continues then the target will not be met. However, if the trend for the most recent five years (since 1998) continues then the target will be met, the report concluded.
Suicide rates whilst fluctuating year on year, show a downward trend since the early 1980s. 'Our Healthier Nation' targets measure suicide rates using three-year pooled rates. Three-year rolling averages are generally used for monitoring purposes, in preference to single year rates, in order to produce a "smoothed trend" from the data and to avoid drawing undue attention to year-on-year fluctuations instead of the underlying trend.
Professor Louis Appleby, the National Director of Mental Health, said: "It is encouraging to see that the numbers of suicides is at the lowest rate ever recorded. Whilst we must always be cautious when interpreting changes in suicide statistics, the current downward trend is positive news. It is especially encouraging to see the first signs that young male suicides are falling as well.
A research forum has been established to consider specific methods of suicide, such as hangings, firearm suicides, poisoning and coproxamol poisoning deaths. The research began in December 2002 and is due to report by Spring 2004.
(gmcg)
Death rates from suicide and "undetermined injury" between 2000 to 2002 have fallen to 8.9 deaths per 100,000 population, which marks a reduction of 3.2% from the baseline rate in 1995 to 1997 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
From September 1998 pack sizes of paracetamol and aspirin have been reduced in order to reduce the incidence of "impulsive overdose", which it is thought has had an impact on the figures.
Although the overall rate of suicide is falling, there are still around 4,500 deaths from suicide in England each year. Over 1,300 young men between the ages of 19 and 35 take their own life each year in England – suicide has now overtaken road accidents as the biggest killer of young men in this age group.
The figures were contained in the first annual report outlining progress with implementation of England's national suicide prevention strategy.
The government's 'Our Healthier Nation' target is to help reduce suicides to 7.4 deaths per 100,000 population by 2009/10/11.
If the trend of the last 10 years continues then the target will not be met. However, if the trend for the most recent five years (since 1998) continues then the target will be met, the report concluded.
Suicide rates whilst fluctuating year on year, show a downward trend since the early 1980s. 'Our Healthier Nation' targets measure suicide rates using three-year pooled rates. Three-year rolling averages are generally used for monitoring purposes, in preference to single year rates, in order to produce a "smoothed trend" from the data and to avoid drawing undue attention to year-on-year fluctuations instead of the underlying trend.
Professor Louis Appleby, the National Director of Mental Health, said: "It is encouraging to see that the numbers of suicides is at the lowest rate ever recorded. Whilst we must always be cautious when interpreting changes in suicide statistics, the current downward trend is positive news. It is especially encouraging to see the first signs that young male suicides are falling as well.
A research forum has been established to consider specific methods of suicide, such as hangings, firearm suicides, poisoning and coproxamol poisoning deaths. The research began in December 2002 and is due to report by Spring 2004.
(gmcg)
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19 September 2003
Suicide rates in young men are rising, claim scientists
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Suicide rates in young men are rising, claim scientists
Conventional methods for assessing trends in suicide rates mask an "important increase in suicide rates among younger men", according to a letter appearing in this week’s issue of The Lancet from two scientists at Bristol University.
19 November 2008
'Completed Suicide' Likely In Year After Attempt, Says BMJ
People who have tried to kill themselves and are suffering from major depression or schizophrenia are at a very high risk of actually committing suicide within a year of their first attempt, concludes a study published today on a leading medical website. The British Medical Journal's bmj.
'Completed Suicide' Likely In Year After Attempt, Says BMJ
People who have tried to kill themselves and are suffering from major depression or schizophrenia are at a very high risk of actually committing suicide within a year of their first attempt, concludes a study published today on a leading medical website. The British Medical Journal's bmj.
13 April 2006
Suicide rate falls to new low
A report on the suicide rate for young men in England has revealed that the rate is continuing to fall. The report revealed that the suicide rate in the three-year period from 2002 to 2004 was 8.56 deaths per 100,000 of the population. This is a reduction of 6.6% from the 1995 to 1997 figure of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
Suicide rate falls to new low
A report on the suicide rate for young men in England has revealed that the rate is continuing to fall. The report revealed that the suicide rate in the three-year period from 2002 to 2004 was 8.56 deaths per 100,000 of the population. This is a reduction of 6.6% from the 1995 to 1997 figure of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
10 September 2012
£1.5m Investment Into Suicide Prevention Research
The government has announced an investment of £1.5m to explore how to prevent suicides among those most at risk of taking their own lives.
£1.5m Investment Into Suicide Prevention Research
The government has announced an investment of £1.5m to explore how to prevent suicides among those most at risk of taking their own lives.
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