Suicide cases on decline, say new statistics

DEATHS by suicide fell in Greater Manchester last year.

Figures released show there were 249 deaths registered in 2019 in Greater Manchester.

That was down from 257 in 2018, although it was still higher than the numbers seen in 2015 to 2017.

It is too early to know the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, and while Samaritans said it was not inevitable suicide rates will rise, people are being impacted by the pandemic and it was essential they get the support they need.

Salford saw a rise in the number of people taking their own lives, with a record 34 deaths registered in 2019, up from 25 the year before, while figures were stable in Manchester at 46, compared to 45 a year before.

Between 2017 and 2019, 121 people died by suicide in Manchester, a rate of 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people. Salford had the highest suicide rate locally, with 13.8 deaths per 100,000 people, or 90 deaths between 2017 and 2019.

Early regional figures for 2020 show a rise in registrations in January to March this year, but a drop for April to June. However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said this likely reflects delays to inquests because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the coroner’s service.

It takes around five months for a inquest to conclude, so the ONS says we currently don’t know the total number of suicides that occurred during the pandemic.

Samaritans CEO Ruth Sutherland said: “It is not inevitable that suicide rates will go up as a result of coronavirus, but we know that the pandemic is impacting on lots of people’s lives and exacerbating some known risk factors for suicide for some people who are already vulnerable.”