Legal News

Annual suicide rates in Wales have reached a ten-year-high – an increase described as “broadly similar” to a spike in suicides among mental health patients in England.

BBC Wales reports that in 2013, there were 355 suicides across Wales, with a steady increase in the number since 2009 – and representing the highest number recorded since 2003.

The Manchester University report says that the increase in suicides in Wales is “significant”.

The figures are published by Manchester University's Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health (BBMH), in an annual report on the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness.

Co-author of the report, Prof Nav Kapur, said:
“It's both statistically significant – and significant from a societal point of view.
“The thing we also have to remember is that, behind everyone of these statistics, there is a person.”

The report singled out factors such as alcohol misuse, unemployment and social isolation as issues affecting some mental health patients and which might contribute to thoughts of suicide.

In England, suicide rates among middle aged men have increased by 73% over the last ten ears, the researchers found.

Prof Kapur said that “tough economic times and increased alcohol consumption” might be playing a part in the increase in suicides among mental health patients – and especially men.

“If these two things are increasing in the background, that might be driving the increase in suicide rates,” he suggested.
Prof Kapur said the figures – compiled using the date of death as opposed to the date deaths are registered in Office for National Statistics figures – shows “the risk group” is changing from that of 20 years ago, when men in their 20s were the greatest concern for suicide risk.
Among women, there were 68 female suicides in Wales in 2013 compared with 71 the previous year – and the number of female suicides in Wales has remained “stable” over the last decade.

BBMH said that its own data shows 23% of suicides in Wales between 2003 and 2013 involved people in contact with mental health services, however – there was no overall change between 2003 and 2012.
The total increase in 2013 might also have resulted from improvements in the delays of registering suicides, the researchers say.
The health board with highest average rate of recorded suicides in 2011-2013, with 14.1 suicides per 100,000 population was Cwm Taf Health Board in southeast Wales.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in northeast Wales had the lowest suicide rate over the same period at 10.7 suicides per 100,000 population.

The Welsh Assembly has launched a plan to tackle suicide and self-harm, called Talk to Me 2.
Welsh Assembly Health Minister Mark Drakeford said:
“It puts in place what we expect services to do to promote, co-ordinate and support plans and programmes to reduce suicide and prevent self-harm at national, regional and local levels.

Mr Drakeford said suicide was “usually a response to a complex series of factors”.

“Prevention of suicide and self-harm is a major challenge for us all – but no single organisation or government department can tackle this issue in isolation,” he added.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services – and our specialist mental health solicitors can advise access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our mental health solicitors are available at short notice for appoints at police stations and hospitals.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may also be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on mental health issues, including initiating treatment reviews.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.