Suicide

Reviewed by Dr Brian Lunn, senior lecturer and honorary consultant psychiatrist

Do you feel suicidal?

If you are feeling suicidal, there are people who can help.

Speak to those around you about why you feel like this.

See your GP, who can help you directly and enlist the help of other health professionals.

There may be a drop-in service run by the local mental health team or social services, with people who can see you at home. Contact numbers should be in the phone book, or telephone your local health trust. Your GP will know these numbers too.

Call a crisis line such as Samaritans, a confidential telephone counselling service that's available 24 hours a day.

If you need to see someone straight away, contact your doctor's surgery or visit A&E at your local hospital.

Do many people commit suicide?

There are around 4000 recorded suicides per year in the UK, but it is estimated that suicide is under-reported by 30 to 50 per cent.

It is among the 10 most common causes of death, and the fourth most common for young adults.

Since the 1960s the rates have been increasing.

More women than men take overdoses, although the difference between the sexes is decreasing. Men are more likely to use violent means or car exhaust fumes than women. One in six people who take their own life leave a note.

Risk factors

Young men are a particularly high-risk group, although suicide rates increase with age and are highest between 60 and 75 years old. There has been a large increase in younger age groups and some decline in the suicide rates in the elderly.

Psychiatric illness. Up to 90 per cent of people who take their own life have a psychiatric illness, with 70 per cent having some symptoms of depression, if not a clear depressive illness. Overall, 15 per cent of people with depression, or alcohol problems will commit suicide.

Social isolation: the risk is higher in those who are divorced, widows and widowers. The lowest risk is in those who are married.

Rates are higher in the unemployed than the employed.

Some employment groups have high rates, including university students, doctors, dentists, vets, lawyers, farmers, policemen and insurance agents.

Previous episodes of deliberate self-harm.

Recent loss, eg bereavement (this includes pets), separation or redundancy.

Being an immigrant.

Long-term physical illness.

What signs should family and friends pay attention to?

There is an urban myth that people who are seriously considering suicide do not talk about their feelings or intentions. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Suicidal ideas are expressed by 68 per cent of people before they act.

If someone you know is unhappy or depressed, let the person talk about whatever is troubling them. Try to help them avoid things that are likely to make them feel worse, for example alcohol or drugs.

If someone you know talks about taking their life, take the risk seriously.

Put the person in contact with one of the crisis services. You can contact Samaritans for advice and, if you provide contact details, they can attempt to contact the person directly. (Any conversation with your friend or family member will be confidential.)

Get professional support if necessary. This would usually be the person's GP, or you may need to take them to A&E.

If a person attempts suicide but survives, there remains the risk that they will try again. For this reason, they will certainly require professional help, together with as much support as possible from family and friends.

Crisis lines
Samaritans	08457 90 90 90 08457 90 91 92 for people with hearing or speech difficulties. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All calls are confidential.
SANELINE	0845 767 8000 1pm to 11pm every day. All calls are confidential.

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