For many of us suicide is something we very much hope we will never have to think about or deal with. Unfortunately, however, the number of suicides which happen each year continues to increase and, hence, with this alarming statistic suicide awareness and its prevention is something we should all pay attention to.
Suicide and Gender
Statistically men are more likely to commit suicide than women. According to the Mental Health Foundation , of the approximate 6000 suicides that occur each year in England and Wales, three-quarters are among men. This disproportion has been similar since the mid-1990s. For England, data collected by The Samaritans in 2020, suggests males aged 45-49 have the highest suicide rate (23.8 per 100,000)
Male or female, this still leave 6000 individuals feeling suicide is the only option, as well as those who attempt suicide or have serious suicidal thoughts – data of which is difficult to reflect accurately.
The importance of suicide awareness
The statistics continue to make for frightening reading, and it once again confirms why the work of raising awareness as well as improving the mental health education and access to wellbeing resources continues to be vital – especially here at The Holistic Healthcare Group.
World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10th September every year – led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention . The role of the awareness day is not just to make people sit up and understand suicide rates but to give people the understanding, education and confidence to provide support and help to those who may be suffering.
See also this helpful resource from the CIPD, entitled Responding to Suicide Risk in the Workplace .
Article links -
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/suicidal-feelings/#Whataresuicidalfeelings
https://www.cipd.co.uk/Images/responding-to-suicide-risk-in-the-workplace-guide-June2021_tcm18-96241.pdf
https://www.samaritans.org/scotland/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/latest-suicide-data/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/men-women-statistics
https://www.iasp.info/