Today, Samaritans Cymru has responded to new ONS data on suicides in Wales.
Responding to today’s ONS data on Suicides in England and Wales: 2023, Neil Ingham, Executive Director for Wales said:
“Today’s figures across Wales and England are a major cause for concern. Suicide in Wales is a major public health issue, but crucially, it is also a major inequality issue.
"Suicide rates in Wales and England are collectively at their highest in over 20 years; this is unacceptable. Men continue to account for three quarters of the overall rate with a strong link between suicide and poverty.
"The latest data for Wales shows that there was an increase in suicide rates last year (2023) compared to 2022. In 2023 (in Wales), there were 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people (386 deaths), an increase compared with 2022, where the rate was 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people (339 deaths). Each of these deaths reflects the tragic loss of an individual life, alongside the devastating impact on all those connected to them.
"Because of registration delays, 39% of deaths registered in 2023 had a date of death in the same year, 51% occurred in 2022 and the remaining deaths occurred in 2021 or earlier. It’s crucial we take this into account when reflecting on changes in rates from year to year. It’s also imperative that we take urgent steps to address these registration delays; they hinder our ability to gain a real insight as to what’s happening on the ground in our Welsh communities and add to the burden of trauma for those bereaved – that trauma creating evidenced further risk of suicide.
"Despite the delays, it is clear we are either seeing a possible rise in suicide rates in Wales or at best, we are witnessing a continued stagnancy in rates, where the average number of suicides never decreases. We are determined to challenge this stagnancy and challenge any willingness to ignore this devastating crisis. Suicide is never inevitable; it is preventable, but we must be prepared to do things differently in Wales.
"We are a unique nation with unique communities and needs. The development of the new Welsh Government Suicide and Self-Harm prevention strategy could hold real strength for Wales, but Welsh Government will need to invest in the doing; the funding of third sector as delivery partners and a properly resourced delivery plan will be absolutely crucial. We need to see prevention of deaths by suicide taken seriously, as we have seen with smoking cessation and prevention of road deaths.
"Suicide does not belong to any one sector, organisation or government department. We all need to work collectively and commit to a new bold vision of reducing suicide in Wales – with action to match that vision. Samaritans Cymru are taking on this challenge, delivering prevention projects and offering support to a variety of at-risk communities in Wales – we hope this worrying new data acts as a wakeup call and motivates others to join and support us in proactively reducing suicides."