Suicides in England and Wales rise by ‘deeply concerning’ 11 per cent with 4,620 deaths in 2019

Suicides in England and Wales rise by ‘deeply concerning’ 11 per cent with 4,620 deaths recorded in 2019 by coroners, according to new figures

  • Men accounted for three times more suicides than women, MoJ data showed
  • Charity head warned suicides were the result of austerity and inequality in UK
  • Accident or Misadventure was the most common inquest conclusion, data said
  • For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or click here for details 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The number of suicides in England and Wales has risen by a ‘deeply concerning’ 11 per cent with 4,620 deaths recorded in 2019, official figures show. 

Men accounted for more than three quarters of suicides, the data published by the Ministry of Justice shows, the same proportion as in 2018.

The number of inquest conclusions recorded rose by two per cent last year to 31,300, a rise that the MoJ attributed to suicide and unclassified conclusions, which also rose by four per cent to 6,331.

The Office of National Statistics saw suicides increase to their highest levels since 2002 in 2018, with a total of 6,507 registered in the UK.

The Coroners’ statistics, published today, were compiled January to December 2019 and, therefore, do not record any deaths linked to coronavirus.

Accident or misadventure made up the highest proportion of inquest conclusions followed by suicide and natural causes, data released by the Ministry of Justice showed

Men accounted for the majority of deaths in all verdicts recorded at inquest. Women accounted for the highest proportion of deaths in accident and misadventure conclusions

Men accounted for the majority of deaths in all verdicts recorded at inquest. Women accounted for the highest proportion of deaths in accident and misadventure conclusions

Deborah Coles, director of charity Inquest, warned many of the deaths illustrate the ‘impact of austerity and inequality and a historic underfunding of health and community services’. 

‘Despite repeated promises from governments about prioritising and addressing mental ill health, it is deeply concerning to see that such deaths have not only continued, but numbers have gone up,’ she said.

‘Inquests too often find these were preventable and expose repeated patterns of failure and neglect in mental health services, which often meet those only at crisis point.

‘What is worrying is the impact this pandemic is having on mental health and to ensure proper resourcing of these already stretched services.’

The Coroners’ statistics showed that men made up 56 per cent of 210,900 deaths reported to the office. 

The number of inquests carried out as a proportion of deaths reported to coroners is shown

The number of inquests carried out as a proportion of deaths reported to coroners is shown

Of inquests carried out, the most common conclusion was death by accident or misadventure, with 7,736 or 25 per cent of the total.

This was followed by suicide, and death by natural causes, with 3,957 or 13 per cent.

Unclassified conclusions, which included narrative verdicts, made up 6,331 or 20 per cent.

Drug and alcohol related deaths made up 3,414, or 11 per cent, and road accident made up 995.

Men made up the majority of conclusions in every verdict recorded. Women made up the highest proportion of conclusions in accident and misadventure, where they accounted for 45 per cent of conclusions. 

The number of deaths in the UK has been rising gradually since 2011, but early projections for 2019 suggest a decrease of 10,732 to 530,857.

About 1,939 deaths reported to coroners occurred abroad, remaining at approximately the same level since 2011.

There was a four per cent fall in the number of deaths reported to coroners, dropping to 210,900, while the average time to complete an inquest rose by a week to 27 weeks. 

  • For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or click here for details

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