Spotlight
Suicides in England and Wales: 2023 registrations
What's in the bulletin?
- There were 6,069 suicides registered in England and Wales (11.4 deaths per 100,000 people) in 2023; this is an increase compared with 2022 (10.7 deaths per 100,000, or 5,642 deaths) and the highest rate seen since 1999.
- The suicide rate for males in England and Wales increased to 17.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023, from 16.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2022; this is the highest rate for males seen since 1999.
- The rate for females was 5.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 in England and Wales; this is the highest female rate observed since 1994, and an increase from 5.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Self-harm and suicide by sexual orientation, England and Wales: March 2021 to December 2023
What's in the bulletin?
- The 2021 Census of England and Wales (Census 2021) included a voluntary question on sexual orientation for the first time; we have linked census data to death registrations and administrative NHS hospital records to estimate how the risk of intentional self-harm and suicide differs by sexual orientation.
- The age-standardised rate of intentional self-harm for people who identified with an LGB+ orientation ("Gay or Lesbian", "Bisexual" or "Other sexual orientation") was 1,508.9 per 100,000 people in England and Wales between March 2021 and December 2023, compared with 598.4 per 100,000 people who described themselves as "Straight or Heterosexual".
- Compared with people identifying themselves as "Straight or Heterosexual", risk of intentional self-harm was 2.5 times higher for people identifying with an LGB+ orientation, 2.8 times higher for those describing themselves as "Bisexual", 2.4 times higher for those describing themselves as "Gay or Lesbian", and 2.2 times higher for those who selected "Other sexual orientation".
How does home ownership, health and more differ across society?
Try this Census quiz to explore what life looked like in 2021 for different people in England and Wales, including home ownership, health, education, and work.
Datasets related to Mental health
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Self-harm and suicide by sexual orientation, England and Wales
Descriptive statistics, crude rates, age-standardised rates and rate ratios of intentional self-harm and suicide per 100,000 people by sexual orientation.
Publications related to Mental health
Statistical bulletins
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Self-harm and suicide by sexual orientation, England and Wales: March 2021 to December 2023
A population-level analysis of rates of intentional self-harm and suicide by sexual orientation for people aged 16 years and over in England and Wales.
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Suicides in England and Wales: 2023 registrations
Registered deaths from suicide in England and Wales, analysed by sex, age, area of usual residence of the deceased, and suicide method.
Articles
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More than one in four sandwich carers report symptoms of mental ill-health
Sandwich carers – those who care for both sick, disabled or older relatives and dependent children – are more likely to report symptoms of mental ill-health, feel less satisfied with life, and struggle financially compared with the general population.
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Children whose families struggle to get on are more likely to have mental disorders
Healthy family functioning and parental mental health are important elements in understanding the mental health of children.