South West suicides above national average in 2022
The Office for National Statistics has released its latest data on suicide deaths in England and Wales
The South West had one of the highest suicide rates in England and Wales in 2022.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics show the region has 12 deaths per 100,000 people.
This is 1.7 higher than the national average.
5642 deaths by suicide were registered in England and Wales last year.
That's up slightly on 2021's figures - with men making up three quarters of all deaths.
The stats show:
- 4179 male suicides were registered in 2022
- 1462 female suicides were registered in 2022
- People aged 50-54 were most at risk of dying by suicide
- The number of men over the age of 90 dying by suicide nearly doubled
Each year the Office for National Statistics releases the data.
'We should all be angry about this'
Suicide survivor Jake Mills set up the Hub of Hope to connect people with local mental health services after he tried to take his own life.
He's told Greatest Hits Radio the numbers are much higher than they need to be: "It makes me so sad and angry.
"We should all be angry about this.
"It comes back round every year, the same conversation, the same sorts of numbers and we should be happy with that? None of us should be happy with that.
"We all became experts on Covid 19, we get messaging out in schools, on the news, in newspapers and we learnt the methods to protect ourselves, the signs and symptoms to recognise how to protect ourselves, our families, our friends and our children.
"We're not getting anywhere near the same messaging around something that is taking thousands and thousands of lives every year and something that is absolutely preventable."
Long delays in registering suicides
London had the lowest suicide rate at 7 deaths per 100,000, compared to the North East which has 12.8 deaths per 100,000.
The figures are for suicides registered in 2022, but can only be made official once an inquest has been completed.
The time taking to register the deaths is increasing - from 180 days in 2021 to 195 days in the last year.
This is the longest delay since 2001, and means many deaths in 2022's figures occurred in 2021 or even 2020.
Get support if you're struggling
Visit the Hub of Hope if you want to find mental health services near you.
If you want to talk to someone, Samaritans are on 116 123
You can text SHOUT to 85258 to speak to someone on text
Talk to your GP - and in an emergency call 999