Suicides rise to 16-year high across UK
The rate of suicide in the UK has hit a 16-year high after surging in the past year following half a decade of decline, new figures show.
Data from the Office for Nationals Statistics (ONS) reveal 6,507 suicides were registered last year, marking a 12 per cent rise on the previous year and the highest rate since 2002.
The rise appears to be largely driven by suicides among boys and men, with the male rate having significantly increased from 15.5 deaths per 100,000 to 17.2 deaths per 100,000.
There was also a rise among girls and women, but this was not judged by the ONS to be statistically different to that observed in the previous year.
Males continue to account for three-quarters of suicide deaths in 2018, with 4,903 deaths compared with 1,604 female deaths.
Nick Stripe, head of health analysis and life events at the ONS, said: “We saw a significant increase in the rate of deaths registered as suicide last year which has changed a trend of continuous decline since 2013.
"While the exact reasons for this are unknown, the latest data show that this was largely driven by an increase among men who have continued to be most at risk of dying by suicide.
"In recent years, there have also been increases in the rate among young adults, with females under 25 reaching the highest rate on record for their age group."
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