Facts about suicide

Download Samaritans Suicide Statistics 2012

Suicide remains a major public health issue and is a devastating event for families and communities. Samaritans’ Strategy 2009-2015, outlines Samaritans’ commitment to take the lead to reduce suicide.

This will be achieved through the delivery of our helpline services, reaching out to high risk groups in communities, working with other organisations and services, and influencing public policy.

"Samaritans believes that a reduction in Suicide is not only possible but that it is an urgent and important priority which does not receive enough attention"

– Samaritans’ Strategy 2009-2015.

In 2010, 20% of contacts with Samaritans (over 500,000) involved individuals expressing suicidal feelings.

Achieving a reduction in suicide involves reaching more people who may be at risk of taking their own lives; which can only be achieved by understanding which groups of individuals are particularly at risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

This document provides a description of the numbers and rates of suicide within the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI), using the data which is available from the official statistical bodies; it does not provide explanations for the trends in suicide rates within or between nations.

The collation of suicide statistics for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and ROI is not routinely provided by any other organisation.

There are significant challenges in collating the suicide statistics from across the UK and ROI. There are variations in the calculation methods of suicide rates between the national statistical agencies and differences in the data.

This leads to challenges in the collation and analysis of suicide statistics and comparisons across countries. In order to understand and prevent suicide it is very important that suicide data is as accurate and comprehensive as possible.

This document also includes some comment on these issues, statistics and the availability of data.

Contact

For more information please contact Elizabeth Scowcroft, Research Officer on e.scowcroft@samaritans.org