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Suicide prevention work "ongoing"

Suicide prevention work

Wednesday 03 July 2024

Suicide prevention work "ongoing"

Wednesday 03 July 2024


Guernsey's relatively high rate of deaths by suicide continues to raise concern among mental health and wellbeing professionals.

The latest data has confirmed the island's statistical rate remains higher than that of the UK and Jersey.

Guernsey's 'age-standardised rate for suicides and injury of undetermined intent' is 15 per 100,000. That number was collated between 2019 and 2021, and shows an increase from 7 per 100,000 in 2013-15.

The rate in England and Wales is 10 per 100,000 for 2021, while Jersey recorded 9 deaths by suicide or injury of undermined intent per 100,000 between 2018 and 2020.

suicide stats

Pictured: The 2023 Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Annual Report can be read in full HERE.

As has been widely reported previously, men are most at risk of death by suicide with the latest data showing that men are three times more at risk than woman. 

Male suicide deaths are highest between ages 20-59 with a pronounced peak from 20-29.

The 2023 Mental Health and Wellbeing Report has confirmed the figures, while clarifying that due to the relatively small numbers of deaths by suicide and injury of undetermined intent across the Bailiwick, compared to larger jurisdictions such as England, "this observed increase is not statistically significant".

"This increasing trend is however of concern, with every death by suicide having a far reaching impact on our small community," the report states.

"Work is ongoing with community partners to develop further actions to target suicide prevention. These will be reported on in the 2024 Annual Report.

Screenshot_2024-07-02_at_13.41.15.png

Pictured: The 2023 Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Annual Report can be read in full HERE.

The statistics have been revealed in the Bailiwick of Guernsey Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Annual Report 2023, published yesterday. 

It is the first annual report of its type, written following the release of the Bailiwick's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2023-2029.

The Strategy aims to offer a more cohesive service by focusing on 'four pillars' for success. 

Those four pillars aim to bring together local data and evidence to inform local services, information access and signposting, improving those available services, and then acting on feedback and reviews.

Suicide prevention is one of the wider aims of the strategy.

If you need urgent help or if you think someone is in immediate danger

If you are concerned you might harm yourself or someone else, contact A&E on 220000 or the emergency services on 999.

Contact the Samaritans either by their 24 hour free and confidential helpline on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or visit the website http://www.samaritans.org

Contact your GP and explain that you require an urgent appointment

Where to go for online support

  • Samaritans offer a 24/7 support line – whatever you are going through, a Samaritan will face it with you.  You don’t have to be suicidal to contact them – in fact most callers are not.  Contact the Samaritans either by their 24 hour free and confidential helpline on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or visit the website http://www.samaritans.org
  • Papyrus is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing in young people. They have lots of support on their website at www.papyrus-uk.org
  • The national Mind website www.mind.org.uk has information about a wide range of mental health issues, and advice for supporting other people. There is further information about support available on the island at www.guernseymind.org.gg 

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