National confidential inquiry into suicide and safety in mental health (HQIP, 9 March 2023)

Summary

This report is the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health's (NCISH) annual report on UK patient and general population data for 2010-2020. It includes findings relating to people aged 10 and above who died by suicide between 2010 and 2020 across all UK countries as well as people under mental health care who have been convicted of homicide, and those in the general population.

Content

Key findings relating to general population suicide include:

• There were 68,357 suicides in the UK between 2010 and 2020, an average of 6,214 deaths per year.
• The rate of suicide decreased by 6% in the UK in 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, compared to 2019, and the decrease was particularly seen in men.
• Suicide rates increased in 2018-19 compared to 2017 in all countries except Wales. All UK countries showed a fall in rates in 2020.

In addition, this report contains key findings relating to patient suicide (people in contact with mental health services within 12 months of suicide):

• Clinical and social characteristics, as well as clinical care
• Suicide by patients with economic adversity
• Suicide by patients aged under 25 years
• Suicide by patients given a diagnosis of personality disorder
• Suicide by patients who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans
• Suicide-related internet use.