Yorkshire records highest suicide rates in England and Wales

A report from the Office for National Statistics published this month revealed that Yorkshire and The Humber recorded the highest nationwide suicide rates for both males and females in 2019.

In England and Wales, 5691 suicides were registered in 2019. Approximately three fourths of the registered deaths were that of males. 

The ONS reported that England and Wales’ age standardised rate of suicide for males aged 10 and over was 16.9 deaths per 100,000. For females in the same age range, the rate was 5.3 deaths per 100,000.

With 20.6 deaths per 100,000 males and 7.3 deaths per 100,000 females, Yorkshire and The Humber overshot the national average and recorded the highest suicide rates in all of England and Wales. 

A research officer with ONS clarified there were no specific causes or reasons available for the high rates of suicide in the region. 

NHS Sheffield has stated that on average, Sheffield lost one person to suicide every week. 

Statistics compiled by local authorities further revealed that while Yorkshire and The Humber recorded the highest suicide rates in England and Wales, the highest number of suicides took place in the South East region, with 859 incidents recorded last year. 

Yorkshire and The Humber registered 660 suicides last year, out of which Leeds saw the highest number of incidents. The city recorded 110 suicides while Sheffield and Wakefield recorded 66 and 60 cases respectively. 

The ONS also reported how registration delays affected the data. Suicides were counted in the year they were registered, rather than the year of death. While 96% of all-cause deaths in England and Wales were recorded within the same year of occurrence, only 51% of suicides registered in 2019 actually took place that year. 

Barnsley Council’s #AlrightPal? campaign was one of the ways local authorities have worked to sensitise people to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, by encouraging people to start conversations about mental illness. 

The council’s web page also offered advice for those trying to reach out to friends and family facing mental health challenges. Tips included putting away a phone in order to be a better listener, using open-ended questions, offering support in spite of a negative reaction, and practicing patience. 

Meanwhile, Sheffield City Council has launched a Suicide Prevention Small Grants Fund for local groups helping men to safeguard their mental health and save their lives. 

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on 10 September.

Suicide is preventable and help is nearer than you think. If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, please reach out to Samaritans as soon as you can. You are valued and your life is important.