The suicide rate has risen in the UK significantly for the first time since 2013.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed there were 6,507 suicides registered in the UK, a rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018, the latest rate is significantly higher than that in 2017 and represents the first increase since 2013.

Three-quarters of registered deaths in 2018 were among men, which has been the case since the mid-1990s.

The UK male suicide rate of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 represents a significant increase from the rate in 2017

For females, the UK rate was 5.4 deaths per 100,000, consistent with the rates over the past 10 years.

Males aged 45 to 49 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate (27.1 deaths per 100,000 males), for females, the age group with the highest rate was also 45 to 49 years, at 9.2 deaths per 100,000.

Despite having a low number of deaths overall, rates among the under 25s have generally increased in recent years, particularly 10 to 24-year-old females where the rate has increased significantly since 2012 to its highest level with 3.3 deaths per 100,000 females in 2018.

As seen in previous years, the most common method of suicide in the UK was hanging, accounting for 59.4% of all suicides among males and 45.0% of all suicides among females.

Nick Stripe, Head of Health Analysis and Life Events, said:

“We saw a significant increase in the rate of deaths registered as suicide last year which has changed a trend of continuous decline since 2013. While the exact reasons for this are unknown, the latest data show that this was largely driven by an increase among men who have continued to be most at risk of dying by suicide. In recent years, there have also been increases in the rate among young adults, with females under 25 reaching the highest rate on record for their age group.

“Looking at the overall trend since the early 80s, we are still witnessing a gradual decline in the rate of suicide for the population as a whole. We will continue to monitor the recent increase, to help inform decision makers and others that are working to protect vulnerable people at risk.”

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