Today, Samaritans has responded to new ONS data on suicides in England and Wales: 2023
Responding to today’s ONS data on Suicides in England and Wales: 2023, Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director of Influencing at Samaritans, said:
“Today’s shocking figures are even worse than expected and with suicide rates at their highest in over 20 years, this should be treated as a public health crisis.
“Based on these figures, over 900 people will have died by suicide in the 55 days since the new government took power but while we immediately heard about plans for more wind turbines, it is suicide prevention that has been left blowing in the wind. The Government needs to get its priorities straight because lives depend on it.
“In particular, local areas must not be left scrabbling around for the funding they need to save lives, with a deadly north-south divide now opening up as rates in the North West hit twice that of London.
“The Autumn Budget is a chance for this Government to break its silence and commit to proper investment for suicide prevention with the same ambition that we have seen drive down smoking rates. These figures are the final wakeup call: suicide is preventable but not without real action.”
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