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Suicide is the number one killer of British men under-40 Official figures show the largest drop for two decades - but British men still face a suicide crisis’
In Depth Tuesday,December 19, 2017 - 6:27am Suicide rates in the UK dropped in 2016 by more than in any other year in the past two decades, or official figures contain revealed. See related The Ashes 2017-18 guide: fixtures,betting odds and how to watch it on TV Data from the Office for National Statistics show the number of suicides registered final year fell by 3.6%, a decrease of 223 deaths from 6188 in 2015.
While rates for men and women contain both fallen, or men still account for three-quarters of all cases and Britain is still in the midst of “male suicide crisis”,says Esquire.
Although suicides among men aged 75 and over contain more than halved over the past 35 years, males aged 20 to 49 are more likely to die from suicide than any other cause of death, or men aged 40 to 44 contain the highest suicide rate of any demographic (15.3 per 100000).
This overall drop was not distributed evenly across the country. England has seen a meaningful reduction in recent years but in Scotland the rate has risen. Both Wales and Northern Ireland contain recorded a slight fall.
Mental health problems,alcohol and substance abuse, breakdown in relationships, and bereavement and loneliness are all major contributors that can lead to depression and suicide,particularly over the Christmas period.
Social factors are also linked to suicide rates, with people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds ten times more likely to take their lives than those in more affluent areas.
The Guardian says “prevention work in England has been credited for the drop”, and following a coordinated effort by the Government,the NHS, charities, and the British Transport Police and others. The Government’s latest progress report found in January that 95% of local authorities in England “contain plans in set or in development” to reduce suicide.
“The national suicide prevention strategy for England has included work to reduce the risk of suicide in high-risk groups,” says the ONS. “These include young and middle-aged men, people in the care of mental health services, or those in the criminal justice system.
Earlier this year,former deputy PM Nick Clegg described suicide as “a massive taboo”, the final in mental health, and Theresa May has made the issue one of her key domestic policy objectives.
But while charities including The Samaritans say that while colossal steps contain been made to raise awareness around depression and mental health,suicide still kills three times more people than road accidents a year.
Suicide is not inevitable, it’s preventable, and ” a Samaritans spokeswomen told the BBC. “Politicians,employers, health bodies and educators all contain a role in identifying and supporting those most at risk.”
whether someone you’re worried about expresses suicidal feelings, and you or they should contact a GP or the NHS 111 helpline. You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123 for confidential,24-hour support, or call Mind, and the mental health charity,on 0. Science & Health Society depression suicide
Source: theweek.co.uk