27 suicide deaths were registered in Barnet last year – up from 15 in 2022 reports Andrew Dowdeswell, Data Reporter

A woman sitting on a bench with her head in her hands — Nationally, the number of suicides registered increased by 8% from 5,642 to 6,069 – (Credt – Radar)

More suicide deaths were registered in Barnet last year, new figures show.

It comes as the rate of registered suicide deaths across England and Wales reached the highest level in more than two decades.

However, Barnet Council told Barnet Post that the way the figures are calculated means that the data for a single year gives an incomplete picture, and that the borough has a relatively low rate of suicide deaths compared to both other London boroughs and the national average.

The Samaritans described the latest national figures as “shocking”, and said the situation should be treated as a “public health crisis”. The charity called on the government to take action in the upcoming October budget. However

The figures have been published ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day next week.

Organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization, World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on September 10 every year and sees people come together around the world to raise awareness of the issue.

Office for National Statistics data shows 27 suicide deaths were registered in Barnet last year – up from 15 in 2022.

In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, 22 suicides were registered in the area.

Nationally, the number of suicides registered increased by 8% from 5,642 to 6,069, the equivalent of 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people, which was the highest rate seen since 1999.

Figures are based on deaths registered in each calendar year, rather than the date the death occurred.

Jacqui Morrissey, from Samaritans, said the figures were “even worse than expected”.

She added: “The autumn Budget is a chance for this government to break its silence and commit to proper investment for suicide prevention with the same ambition that we have seen drive down smoking rates.

“These figures are the final wake-up call: suicide is preventable but not without real action.”

On October 30, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the first autumn Budget under the new Labour government, where she is expected to ask Whitehall departments to find further savings.

Morrissey also highlighted a growing regional divide. The North West had the highest suicide rate at 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people, more than double London’s rate of 7.3 per 100,000.

She added: “Local areas must not be left scrabbling around for the funding they need to save lives.”

Suicide rates locally are calculated over a three-year rolling average. In Barnet, five suicides per 100,000 people were registered between 2021 and 2023.

Explaining the meaning of the data from a local persperpective, a spokesperson for Barnet Council told Barnet Post: “In England and Wales, all deaths by suicide are certified by a coroner and cannot be registered until an inquest is completed. This results in a delay between the date the death occurred and the date of registration. The figures therefore are not representative of number of people who died by suicide in 2023.

“Barnet currently has the fourth lowest suicide rate in London and significantly lower than England average. In addition, the rate suicide rate in Barnet was 9,9 per 100,000 in 2014-2016 whilst in 2021-23 its 5 per 100,000 residents. This demonstrates that relative suicide rates are still among the lowest ever seen in Barnet since records began. As the numbers are thankfully small, we have to look over several years to make sense of the data.”

There was also inequality between men and women, with males making up around three-quarters of suicides nationally.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Every suicide is a tragedy and these figures show a clearly worrying trend, which this Government is committed to reversing.

“We know that people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need. That’s why we will fix our broken health system to ensure that we give mental health the attention and focus it deserves.

“Alongside acting to improve mental health support, we will work across government to tackle the underlying causes of unequal health outcomes including suicide, across the country.”

Contact Samaritans for free at any time on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.

UPDATE: this story was updated on Thursday September 5th at 4.05pm following comment from Barnet Counc

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