LONDON – New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that suicide rates in England and Wales have escalated to their highest levels in over twenty years, with a significant increase observed in 2023.
According to Philippines News Agency, there were 6,069 suicides registered in 2023, up from 5,642 in 2022. The data indicates a continued gender disparity, with approximately three-quarters of these cases being male, a consistent trend since the mid-1990s. The male suicide rate climbed to 17.4 deaths per 100,000 people last year, the highest since 1999. For females, the rate increased slightly to 5.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2023, marking the highest female rate in nearly three decades.
The overall suicide rate across both England and Wales reached 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, which is the highest rate recorded since 1999. Wales experienced a particularly sharp increase, with a suicide rate of 14.0 deaths per 100,000 compared to 11.2 in England.
Vahe Nafilyan, head of data and analysis for social care and health at the ONS, commented on the troubling trend, noting increases across all age groups, particularly among those aged 45 to 64. “Suicide rates either increased or remained unchanged in each of the nine English regions, but the north-west saw the largest rise,” Nafilyan said. He emphasized the devastating impact of suicide on individuals, families, and communities and assured continued monitoring to support preventive efforts for those at risk.