Suicide (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Certain factors are known to be associated with increased risk of suicide.

A number of factors can determine how vulnerable a person is to suicidal thinking and behaviour. These include:

• life history - for example, having a traumatic experience during childhood, a history of sexual or physical abuse, or a history of parental neglect
• mental health - for example, developing a serious mental health condition, such as schizophrenia
• lifestyle - for example, misuse drugs or misuse alcohol
• employment - such as poor job security, low levels of job satisfaction or being unemployed
• relationships - being socially isolated, being a victim of bullying or having few close relationships

Factors such as: debt; lack of social capital; family breakdown and bereavement as well as the ability of services to identify and support people who may be at risk of developing mental health problems are also important factors to consider in suicide prevention.

Suicide rates in England

In the last 20 years the rates have generally declined with a very slight rise in the last few years. The latest available rate for England is 8.7 / 100,000 of the population (directly age standardised). The highest this rate has risen to in the last 20 years was 9.6 in 1998 - 2000 (where mortality is due to self harm and injury of undetermined intent).

In the UK, death by suicide is more common in men than women, the risk also varying by age. From 2001 to 2012 the highest risk for men in the UK was experienced by those aged 30 to 44 years, with those 45 to 59 being the next most at risk (with some evidence of a recent increase in the rate). For women this order was reversed. In men, fewest deaths by suicide tended to be seen in those aged 60 to 74 years, although in 2006 and 2010 the age group least at risk were the 15 to 29 year olds, which has been the case for females from 2001 to 2012 (ONS, 2104).

Suicide verdicts are not returned for children under 10 yrs and for children aged under 15yrs, deaths due to undetermined intent are not classified by the ONS as suicide (Statistical Update on Suicide, January 2014, Department of Health, p6)

Latest data suggests that hanging (including strangulation and suffocation) continues to be the most common method of suicide for men, but with women it is equally likely to be this or drug related poisoning.