New suicide statistics for Yorkshire 'show why men need to talk more'

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the region had the highest number of male suicides at 20.6 per 100,000. London recorded the lowest rate with 11.8.

Among women, the region also had the highest suicide rate at 7.3 per 100,000, while the North East had the lowest at 4.1.

Overall, the rate of male suicide in England and Wales reached the highest figure in two decades in 2019, with middle-aged men (aged 45 to 49) at most risk.

The ONS said higher rates among middle-aged men might be because they were more likely to be affected by economic adversity, alcoholism and isolation. It added: “It could also be that this group is less inclined to seek help.”

Oliver Vikse, a project development worker with Andy’s Man Club, a talking group for men, founded in 2016 by Halifax rugby league player Luke Ambler after his brother-in-law took his own life, said one factor was men not talking about their feelings.

Currently face-to-face meetings are not being held because of the pandemic, but they hope to start up again in October, depending on guidelines. In the meantime they are holding sessions online.

He said: “One of the problems in Yorkshire and the Humber is we have quite an old fashioned mentality - the old ‘chin up, chest out, don’t talk about your feelings’.

“These are the stigmas we are trying to break down. The ones who don’t want to talk about their problems we lose.

“Unfortunately it’s something we see time and time again. It breaks our hearts every time.”

The national charity Samaritans said it was “a worrying trend that has persisted for decades” as it also raised concern over the continued increase in suicide rates among young people, especially women under 25.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic, it said, was still not clear because of the “persistent” problem of reporting delays.

Its chief executive, Ruth Sutherland, said: “It is not inevitable that suicide rates will go up as a result of coronavirus, but we know that the pandemic is impacting on lots of people’s lives and exacerbating some known risk factors for suicide for some people who are already vulnerable.”

She said volunteers had reported many callers being worried about their job, business or finances, with common themes being supporting their family and the fear of homelessness.

“Undoubtedly, the pandemic has affected everyone in society, but Samaritans is particularly worried about three groups: people with pre-existing mental health conditions, young people who self-harm, and less well-off middle-aged men,” she said. “It is essential that these groups are given the support they need before people reach crisis point. Suicide prevention must be a priority right now, so we can save lives.”

Asked to comment on the regional figures, Leeds Mind director Kate Goldring added: “Suicide is an extremely complex issue, and there will be no single factor that could account for these new figures.”

The latest figures show men accounted for around three-quarters of suicide deaths registered in 2019 – 4,303 compared with 1,388 women. The male suicide rate of 16.9 deaths per 100,000 was the highest since 2000 but in the line with the 2018 rate, the ONS added.

The rate for women was 5.3 deaths per 100,000, the highest since 2004.

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