Suicidology summary for the UK 2024 – 2025
Danielle Shaw – Suicidologist
Below I have summarised information from across the UK. Last year the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) made available a £10 million grant fund to support suicide prevention activities delivered in England by voluntary, community or social enterprise.
List of organisations within receipt of this funding.
The government also funded £75 million into the cause, there is not list of organisations within funding for this, it as been sought but no response.
Trigger warning throughout as there are talks of suicide.
Suicide deaths that have been reported for England in 2022 are 5,846
Suicide deaths that have been reported for England in 2023 are 5,418 / 5,570
Suicide deaths that have been reported for England in 2024 are 5,717 / 6,190
(There are two different sources for analysing data from)
2025
January to March, 1,308 suicides were registered
April to June, 1,433 suicides were registered
For 2025 data from the ONS it has been noted that the data has been concluded and estimated over a two-year period from October 2023 – October 2025 with no real time monthly data, it has been suggested that there are similarities and not many changes. The data provided is given in formulation 10.1 out of 100,000 as appose to previous years where real data has been released and concluded, I will be following this up to hopefully release monthly published data figures.
Although recently, research has shown that the ONS have had many recent negative implications via the watchdog and BBC reporters, saying data provided is not a current reliable source, this was Summer 2025 so hopefully improvements are made so we are able to make a better judgement via previously reliable sources.
2024 UK Facts
- Highest suicide rates in the country were seen in the North East.
- Lowest suicide rates in the country were seen in London.
- When comparing 2023 and 2024, the rate of suicides registered increased in four of nine regions in England.
- The largest increase was in Yorkshire and The Humber with the rate of suicides registered increasing
- The biggest decrease was in the East of England.
- Those aged 50 to 54 years had the highest suicide rate again in 2024. This age group have had the highest rate for suicide deaths registered each year since 2021.
- In England and Wales, males aged 50 to 54 years had the highest suicide rate across all age groups. This is a change from 2023 where males aged 45 to 49 years had the highest rate for suicide deaths registered.
- In 2024 females aged 45 to 49 years had the highest rate. A change from 2023 where females aged 50 to 54 years had the highest suicide rate.
- The most common method of suicide in England and Wales continued to be hanging, strangulation and suffocation, which accounted for 56.6% of all suicides in 2024 (3,504 deaths).
- The second most common method in 2024 continued to be poisoning (21.5% of suicide deaths registered; 1,331 deaths). This is an increase compared with 2023 where poisoning accounted for 19.8% of suicide deaths registered (1,202 suicide deaths).
Introduction
In the UK sadly we lose many people to a suicide death. If you are feeling this way, please reach out to someone – if you are struggling and need instant support. We have volunteers available at SAPUK everyday 6am – 11pm. For more information, please email myself danielle@suicideapuk.co.uk or the admin team admin@suicideapuk.co.uk
Hey, my name is Danielle Shaw, and I am a UK Suicidologist, I work with SAPUK and provide support, research and data analysis within my expertise. My topic of research is Suicidology; here I provide information and upcoming knowledge / information throughout the UK.
Many factors contribute to why someone may want to end their own life. Factors include, a traumatic event or a series of events, ongoing poor mental health, poor physical health, low local affluence, substance abuse and many more.
In recent years as the population has increased, we have seen a rise of the online world. Social media is quite present in many individuals lives with AI also contributing to many individuals’ daily routines (although there are not many publications on AI and its factors toward mental health). It can then encourage more complex hidden negative social factors that have then increased the act of social isolation and then encouraging more suicidal feelings. Please see blog on mental health & social media for more information.
A range of feelings can be derived from being present online these include not feeling good enough online, the ease of comparison between social media profiles has also enabled individuals the ease of negative comparisons.
Poverty has also seen a rise in the last year so many families are now struggling with financial hardships.
Where is the data and information sourced
Sourced from ONS, WHO, Samaritans, 2025 independent research publications.
Positives within the data
Within the UK, we have many departments within the government who are working so that we are enabled real-time transparent data. This enables us as organisations, volunteers and workers to be provided with sufficient data to be able to progress with our future support and where it is needed. Including information on methods of suicide, heightened areas and data per 100,000 including quarterly analyses. The data provided is broken down into age groups and is divided between male & female.
Implications within the data
There are several implications with the data that is provided for real time suicide statistics. These are including registration delays, under 10’s are also not included. Within the data some suicide deaths where not recorded as a suicide on individuals of the ages under 15.
Because of the length of time it takes for a suicide death to be officially registered, there is always a lag in when we can publish data on suicide occurrences. A coroner must certify a suicide death, usually following an inquest. The median time taken to register a suicide death in 2024 was 199 days in England and 269 days in Wales.
When individuals pass away, they must go through stages, including that with a registered coroner. Here the coroner spends time concluding how an individual has passed away. On occasions the coroner must determine whether the death was caused by suicide. When undergoing this assessment, the coroner must align with certain proofs, this is called a standard of proof, this standard was lowered to a ‘civil standard’ in July 2018 from a ‘criminalised standard’ which saw an increase in deaths registered for suicide.
There is data within the data that is classed as accidental and is not registered as a suicide death. Between years 2013 – 2023 accidental hanging increased by 7.1%. Accidental drowning increased by 0.2% and accidental poisoning increased by 47%. Hard-to-code data is also not included in suicide reporting.
Breakdown below –
In 2024 a total of 531,964 deaths where registered in England – link here https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/deathregistrationsummarystatisticsenglandandwales2024
Suicide deaths that have been publicly reported for England in 2024 are 5,717.
Breakdown of data for the deaths of UK & wales
In 2024, the deaths registered as accidental / undetermined deaths or deaths that could align with suicidal intent are 60,867.
The data provided is available to view on the ONS website via the above link. Please note that below the data has been deemed as accidental or with another cause of intent. Data that has been reported as registered deaths that could align with a suspected suicide for 2024 include –
Intentional self-harm in males was 4,133, and in females it was 1,356 – 5,489 in total, presuming this is included in the registered suicide deaths.
In the 2024 registered deaths data, it was seen that 16,939 male and, 26,672 females where registered as a death caused by mental and behavioural disorders.
Furthermore, there was more via mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance abuse, 872 deaths in males, 404 deaths in females.
Accidental drowning showed that 213 males died this way, and 83 females.
Accidental poisoning, 6,841 males 1,952, females. This figure included overdosing on psycho-active substances such as a class a drug. Inhalation of necrotic substances at work etc.
Event of undetermined intent, males 466, females 235, this is where the coroner does not know the individual’s intent on death.
Intentional self-harm and event of undetermined intent, males 4,599, females 1,591. This is where there is clear understanding of self-harm, but the coroner cannot determine a suicide death.
I have enquired about the mental and behavioural deaths as this information is a bit vague, so I will update when I receive a response.
Historically
Historically suicide prevention only emerged socially in the 2000’s with many seeing a death by suicide as a criminal offence. It wasn’t until we as a nation started to understand behavioural and mental disorders properly and how they influence an individual in creating a suicidal mind.
Suicidal thoughts were misunderstood, leading to many misdiagnoses. Often individuals were locked away instead of supported.
Summary of the work done throughout the UK for prevention
UK Mental Health organisations list – Suicide Prevention support list.
There are over 100 suicide prevention organisations across the UK. All organisations are independently making a difference within their communities. Here are a few that I have found of most support, that I would recommend.
https://www.suicideapuk.co.uk Of course SAPUK, we have been called one of the best volunteer-led organisations of the UK – supporting suicidal thoughts and actions reductions.
https://www.hre4u.co.uk is a mental health CIC working to prevent suicides by providing mental health resources.
http://www.help4you.org.uk is a mental health charity working on reducing stress & anxiety.
https://www.safecutkits.co.uk/ are an organisation who opens the door for safe conversations around self-harm, including understanding & safety.
https://www.thebrotherscafe.co.uk/ The Brothers café In Wales is extremely supportive group.
https://behindthesmile.care – provide peer support for those struggling with their mental health.
I would also recommend getting involved with The Baton of Hope, if you have the opportunity, I was fortunate enough to be a part of this last year.
The government have a five-year strategy plan where they invest into certain areas and deliver suicide prevention initiatives.
All the common ones well known ones also have support, Mind, Papyrus, Samaritans etc.
Worldwide suicide prevention
Lesotho currently has the highest suicide rate in the world, with an estimated 87.5 deaths per 100,000 people. This rate is significantly higher than that of other countries.
In 2023, it was reported that these five countries had the highest suicide rates.
Upcoming work throughout the UK
The National Suicide Prevention Conference – 22 Apr 2026
There are also more conferences, please google, suicide prevention conferences 2026.
At SAPUK, we are doing 9 social anxiety reduction events collaborating with other organisations. We also provide Walk & Talks from the Preston area and Lancashire. We provide these in Dewsbury too, if you are looking for joining something similar, please search locally for ‘Walk & Talk near me’ – a bunch should pop up for you.
We also may be doing The Semicolon Festival again, just understanding the logistics behind this.
The UK Semicolon Tattoo Project starts 3rd / 4th April 2026. https://www.suicideapuk.co.uk/semicolonproject
UK Suicidologists
Danielle Shaw, I have been a Suicidologist for four years now – https://www.danisace.com
Dr Alexis Palfreyman – Centre for Impact on Violence & health
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexispalfreyman
Hilary Causer – Social Scientist – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilary-causer-66980a1b0/
Dr Andrew Maleknia CPsychol AFBPsS
It was hard to find many UK Suicidologists; I thought the best place to find them was on LinkedIn.
If you would like to add in any information, please contact me on danielle@suicideapuk.co.uk.
Last updated January 2026. Will be updated quarterly.