Suicide rates in England and Wales reach highest level since 1999

The official figures, described by the suicide prevention charity Samaritans as worse than expected, showed 6,069 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2023, representing the highest rate since 1999.

Jacqui Morrissey, the assistant director of influencing at Samaritans, criticized the government for prioritizing other issues over suicide prevention, emphasizing that, 'based on these figures, over 900 people will have died by suicide in the 55 days since the new government took power.'

Samari­tans called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to invest in suicide prevention with the same ambition that drove down smoking rates, stating that 'these figures are the final wake-up call: suicide is preventable but not without real action.'

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