The latest Office For National Statistics (ONS) suicide statistics show the suicide rate in England and Wales* hasn’t changed much since last year. The fact that numbers remain at a 20-year high is unacceptable - and we urgently need to do more to reduce the rates of suicide in the UK.
20th December 2023
Times are tough. We need to work together to stop people dying by suicide
The numbers paint a bleak picture - and one which CALM exists to address . With 5,642 lives lost to suicide in England and Wales alone in 2022, it’s clear that more than ever, we need to pull together to stop lives from being lost to suicide.
The figures show that 75% of all deaths by suicide continue to be male, while the North East has the highest rate of suicide of any region in England and Wales. As we continue to move through a period of financial uncertainty, we need to ensure sufficient measures are in place to support those at risk.
Our helpline receives in excess of 28,000 calls a month from people struggling with suicidal thoughts - more calls than we’ve ever taken before. Through these calls we hear about all the different pressures people are facing right now. And are there to provide expert advice and support when things get too much.
Additionally, suicide rates among young people have not decreased, meaning there’s a long way to go in ensuring our young people are equipped with the support and tools they need to look after their mental health.
The ONS stats continue to provide a barometer for our work - helping us identify where and how our services are most needed. And the message is clear. We all need to do more to help people tackle the many stresses that are being placed on their lives. And we need to continue to smash the stigma that stops people from speaking up when they’re struggling - whether that’s with depression or with a devastating mortgage increase.
Our full name is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. At our core, we’re about finding the joy in life and a way forward for everyone. And right now, that joy is at risk - whether it’s beers down the pub with your mates suddenly becoming unaffordable or a moment to yourself away from the kids with your favourite coffee cancelled.
CALM exists not only to intervene at vital crisis moments but to provide coping mechanisms, tools, advice and, crucially, hope to everyone struggling. We’re here to put life-saving information into the hands of friends, family and colleagues, to mobilise communities to create safety nets and to make suicide prevention a conversation everybody feels comfortable with.
It’s not just suicide and mental health services that need support. As we enter an election year, key risk factors for suicide must be addressed. Effective suicide prevention isn’t only helping people at crisis point, it’s working across industries, political beliefs, cultures and communities to make support accessible and available. Working cross-organisationally to tackle well-known risk factors like poverty, homelessness and addiction.
When one in five of us will have suicidal thoughts in our lifetime, and with an increasingly uncertain future for many, CALM will continue to scale services and resources to meet demand. Working tirelessly to find ways to spark national conversation aimed at shedding the stigma around suicide in the UK.
As we head into Christmas and the start of a new year, the need to support one another is more vital than ever before. So, if you or someone you know needs help, CALM's helpline and live chat are open from 5 pm to midnight every day, 365 days a year. Alongside a range of resources available to everyone at www.thecalmzone.net/get-support.
*Please note that this article refers to England and Wales only - NI and Scotland figures and rates for 2022 have not been published.
