The number of people taking their own lives across Lincolnshire is on the rise.
The number of people taking their own lives across Lincolnshire is on the rise.
According to a Lincolnshire County Council report, there were approximately 105 registered deaths from suicide and injury of undetermined intent across Lincolnshire in 2023.
This marked an eight per cent rise compared to the level in 2022 and relates to a rate of 14 per 100,000, which is significantly higher than the reported 11.4 per 100,000 average for the whole of England and Wales.
While suicide rates for both women and men have risen in recent years, the rate for men was much higher between 2020 and 2022, at 20.5 per 100,000, compared to 6.4 per 100,000 for women.
The highest suicide rates in 2020-2022 were among males and females aged 30-49, at 28.4 per 100,000 and 10.0 per 100,000, respectively.
Lincoln was listed as the district with the highest rate of suicide during the period of 2021-2023, with 20.1 deaths per 100,000, while West Lindsey had the lowest rate, at 7.3 per 100,000.
The report, which is due to go before LCC’s health scrutiny committee yesterday Wednesday (October 9), describes every suicide as a “tragedy”.
In Lincolnshire, a multi-agency Suicide Prevention Strategic Group (SPSG) coordinates suicide prevention efforts.
Looking ahead, it has pledged to improve support for children and young people who are impacted or bereaved by suicide, as well as for people who have attempted suicide and their friends and family.
“In 2024-25 the SPSG will continue work to implement the new suicide prevention strategy, guided by the annual action plan,” the report read.
The focus for 2024 will be to embed the voice of people with lived experience of suicide, reduce stigma and increase awareness of suicide and improve support for people who have attempted suicide.”
