Experts report on highest suicide rates

Experts at LJMU are helping to explain why an area of the rural north has the second-highest rate of death by suicide registered in England and Wales.

Cumberland Council in Cumbria expressed its concern at the situation in a report into the facts and factors behind the mental health issue, published this week in partnership with LJMU’s Suicide and Self-Harm Research Group.

In 2024, the area overseen by the council had the second-highest rate of death by suicide registered in England and Wales.

Cumberland Council said 782 responses to its 'The Big Question' research focused on all genders and found women were more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, make a suicide attempt and be bereaved by suicide.

Understanding

Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University brought together local data and the lived experience of people over 18 years, to better understand suicide, self-harm, and support needs across the area.

They found more than 50% of respondents had experienced suicidal or self-harm thoughts, and one in five had attempted suicide, after experiencing isolation, financial pressure and long waits for support.

The data found that men were less likely to seek help, while women were more likely to report suicidal thoughts or attempts and not get follow-up care. It also highlighted a gap in support for younger adults, especially those aged 18 to 25, most likely to experience suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

Many of these were linked to job insecurity, early life stress and a lack of stigma-free help.

Older adults aged 60 to 79 said they were often the least likely to receive help, suggesting that stigma, digital exclusion, and limited outreach made it harder to access care later in life.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released last year, showed the suicide rate in England at 10.9 per 100,000 people compared to 19.4 per 100,000 in the Cumberland area.

Offer solutions

Dr Emma Ashworth, Associate Professor in Child & Adolescent Mental Health and co-lead of the Suicide and Self-Harm Research Group, said: “We would like to thank all of the Cumberland residents who took the time to share their experiences with us. The findings highlight some key issues affecting the community, and crucially offer lots of different solutions that could be implemented in the region. We hope that these can be used to produce meaningful change, helping to improve individuals’ quality of life and reduce thoughts of suicide.”

Colin Cox, Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing at Cumberland Council, said: “This report shines a light on an issue that affects all our communities. Understanding the experiences of those in crisis helps us act early to save lives. Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility, and these findings will guide how we deliver services across Cumberland to reach people before they reach crisis.”