Number of suicides in Burnley hits five-year high

The number of suicides in Burnley was the highest recorded since 2009.

Office for National Statistics figures show that 10 suicides were recorded in Burnley in 2018, an increase on the nine recorded in 2017 and the highest number recorded since 2009, when there were 12.

The suicide rate, which is measured across a three-year period, was 9.9 per 100,000 people in the area – below the rate across the North West, at 10.4, and lower than the 11.2 average for the UK. Across the UK, 6,507 suicides were registered last year, 12% more than in 2017.

Of them, three-quarters were men, at a rate of 17.2 per 100,000,which the ONS said this represented a "significant increase from the rate in 2017". It added that the exact reasons for the rise are unknown, but changes made in the last year to the way coroners record such deaths may be a factor: in July 2018 the standard of proof used by coroners to determine whether a death was a suicide was lowered.

"It is extremely worrying that, for the first time in five years, the suicide rate in the UK has increased, with 686 more deaths than in 2017," said Samaritans chief executive Ruth Sutherland. "There has also been a significant increase in the suicide rate in young men since 2017. Significantly, more men aged 45-49 took their own lives also, and middle-aged men remain the group at greatest risk of suicide overall."

The figures show the highest rate of suicide across the UK by age in 2018 was among 45 to 49-year-olds, a rate of 27.1 deaths per 100,000 males.

Nick Stripe, from the ONS, 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.

"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," Nick added. "We will continue to monitor the recent increase, to help inform decision-makers and others that are working to protect vulnerable people at risk."

The figures cover all deaths from intentional self-harm for people over the age of 10 and deaths where the intent was undetermined for those aged over 15.