FOI ref: FOI-2023-1408
Ypo asked
How are attempted or deaths by suicides recorded?
What is the current suicide rate for British Armed Forces, Fire Service, or the Police Force in active service and veterans?
If the above request cannot be met, are there any peripheral statistics for the above professions, which would be useful alternatives, including:
- depression or other mental health conditions
- post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)
- self-harm
- substance misuse
We said
Thank you for your request.
Unfortunately, we do not hold information relating to attempted suicide, only death by suicide. You may wish to contact NHS England for further information on this topic at england.contactus@nhs.net.
Our mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration. This Quality and Methodology Information report has more information detailing the strengths and limitations of the data, methods used, and data uses and users.
We have published several pieces of analysis of suicide in different occupational groups for people aged 20 to 64 years, based on deaths registered in England and Wales.
Occupation is reported at the time of death registration by the informant and this information using the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC 2010). This classification system has 4 levels of granularity, ranging from higher-level groupings to specific occupations. This includes:
1171 Officers in armed forces
1172 Senior police officers
1173 Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services
3311 NCOs and other ranks
3312 Police officers (sergeant and below)
3313 Fire service officers (watch manager and below)
3315 Police community support officers
We used the 2011 Census and death registration data linked by NHS number for people in England and Wales and investigated a wide range of potential sociodemographic factors likely to be associated with the risk of suicide, including armed forces membership: Sociodemographic inequalities in suicides in England and Wales: 2011 to 2021.
We have also committed to complete analysis in future investigating suicide risk in veterans: Mental health, current and upcoming work: March 2023.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes official statistics on UK armed forces suicides, which may also be helpful. If you have any questions about this data please contact MOD directly.