Over 6,000 suicides in England and Wales last year
Lots of alarming statistics on suicide rates in 2023, but these stand out:
Three-quarters of the deaths were of males, but the female suicide rate reached its highest level since 1994.
Rates increased across all age groups compared to 2022, especially among those aged 45 to 64 years.
The suicide rate for women across England and Wales was 5.7 per 100,000 people. The rate for men was 17.4 per 100,000 but increased to 25.5 for men aged 45 to 49.
As a man in that 45 to 49 age bracket, these statistics feel particularly poignant. We men still have a long way to go with being vulnerable and not leaving one another to struggle on alone in silence.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
