SUICIDE RATE ON THE RISE

We investigate the reasons why numbers almost doubled in city Fears that the pandemic could increase the risk factors for many

A mum’s story of tragedy and how she is now helping others

AN investigation by the Mercury has revealed a rise in suicide rates before the pandemic hit.

In 2019, across the county 89 people took their own lives – up from 73 the previous year and 53 in 2017.

That overall rise was largely due to a big increase in Leicester, where there were 34 deaths from suicide in 2019, up from 19 the previous year.

North West Leicestershire also saw a rise, from four to 11, while numbers fell in areas such as Oadby and Wigston borough, from eight to two, Melton borough, from five to two, and Harborough, from nine to five.

In Leicester, 71 people took their own lives between 2017 and 2019 – a rate of 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

RISK FACTORS

Research carried out by the Samaritans has identified factors that increase the risk of suicide, with deprivation a particular driver.

Official government data ranks Leicester as the most deprived area in the county.

Leicester also has a high unemployment rate compared with the rest of Leicestershire, with 4.8 per cent of working age adults out of work in 2019.

That was above the national average of 3.9 per cent.

Harborough had the lowest unemployment rate, at 2.3 per cent.

However, it is known that middleaged men have a higher risk of suicide and Harborough has the highest proportion of men aged between 40 and 55 (10.8 per cent) in Leicestershire.

Professor Louis Appleby, who leads the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, said there was a “huge amount of evidence” pointing to the link between money troubles and suicide.

This is a particular concern at the moment, due to the pandemic.

THE PANDEMIC

So far, national statistics suggest the pandemic has not caused a predicted spike in suicide – but clinicians fear an increase could still be to come.

On average, there were 85.4 suicides per month across England from April to August last year.

That was up from a monthly average of 79.6 suicides during the same period in 2019, but close to the average of 84.0 per month in the three months before lockdown.

The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), which carried out the research, concluded there is “no evidence of the large national rise in suicide post-lockdown that many feared”.

NCISH said this could change and it does not rule out the possibility of lockdown having a greater impact in certain areas.

Prof Appleby said: “The evidence so far is that suicide has not risen and this is consistent with most other countries.

“However, as the pandemic evolves it is possible we will see higher levels of risk in certain groups, especially those who are facing economic stress.”

The pandemic has already caused a great deal of financial hardship.

In Leicestershire, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits more than doubled between March and November 2020, rising from 17,109 to 35,931.

Even before the pandemic, local authorities in Leicestershire had mostly increased spending on mental health.

In budgets approved before the pandemic, Leicester City Council increased its budget for mental health support for adults in 2020/21 by 4 per cent, from £17 million in 2019/20 to £17.7 million.

Blaby district council almost trebled spending, from £55,000 to

£140,000, while Leicestershire County Council lowered its budget slightly, by £300,000 to £18 million.

Mette Isaksen, senior research and evidence manager at Samaritans, said a rise in suicide rates caused by the pandemic is not inevitable.

But Covid-19 has exacerbated a number of risk factors including job losses and financial worries.

She said: “Suicide is a complex issue and it’s rarely caused by one thing.

“But we know there are a range of psychological, cultural and economic factors which can increase risk

including gender, age and inequality.

“Living in a more deprived area does increase risk of suicide for a range of reasons.

“It might be access to support or employment opportunities – unemployment is a key risk factor.”

She added: “We also know economic recession can have an impact.

“Evidence has shown that during the recession between 2008 and 2010, there were an estimated 1,000 excess suicides in England.

“But suicide is not inevitable and there are actions that we can take to