Mind responds to latest ONS stats around suicide
Mind responds to latest ONS figures which show that the suicide rate in England rose 6% from 2022, the first substantial rise since 2018.
Jen Walters, Executive Director of Social Change says:
“It’s very concerning to see an increase in the number of suicides in England since 2022. Even one suicide is one too many. The causes of suicide are many, complex, and vary from one person to another.
"What we do know is we are still feeling the seismic effects from the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis is continuing to have a devastating impact on society. We must do much more to reverse this.
“As we approach a General Election, we need increased commitments from all parties to tackle the scale of need. This must be alongside the renewed Suicide Prevention Strategy to reduce head on the number of people experiencing mental health problems and reaching crisis point. This means investing in community mental health services that help prevent people from becoming unwell, removing longstanding inequalities, and putting in place measures so everyone with a mental health problem can get the help they need. This means urgent reform of the Mental Health Act and inpatient services for people experiencing crisis, including those who are self-harming, experiencing psychosis or suicidal thoughts.”