Consistently high suicide rates underscore urgent need for action

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Yesterday, the latest suicide statistics for England and Wales were published by the Office for National Statistics. There were 6,162 suicide deaths registered in England and Wales in 2025, with the overall suicide rate remaining broadly unchanged from 2024.

With suicide continuing to have a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has published two new information resources, Suicidal thoughts and Supporting someone in distress or with suicidal thoughts, to help people experiencing suicidal thoughts, as well as family members, friends and others who may be concerned about someone they care about.

The new statistics show that men continue to be disproportionately affected by suicide, with suicide rates more than three times higher than those among women, at 17.5 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 5.5 deaths per 100,000 for women. Both rates were similar to the previous year. The highest suicide rates were recorded among men aged 50 to 54 and women aged 45 to 49.

While the suicide rate in England remained unchanged for a third consecutive year, at 11.1 suicide deaths per 100,000 people, Wales saw a reduction, with the rate falling from 15.7 to 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people.

Significant regional inequalities also persist. London recorded the lowest suicide rate of any English region, at 7.3 deaths per 100,000 people, while the North East recorded the highest rate, at 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people. This means people living in the North East were therefore almost twice as likely to die by suicide as those living in London.

Dr Alys Cole-King, suicide prevention expert and fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales, said:

"Every suicide is a tragedy, and behind these statistics are devastated families, friends and communities. While it’s encouraging to see the suicide rate in Wales fall, the fact that more than 6.000 suicides were registered across England and Wales in 2025 shows that we can’t afford to be complacent. There’s still much work to be done to tackle suicide.

"The continued disparity between men and women is particularly concerning. Men remain more than three times as likely to die by suicide, and we need a renewed focus on ensuring men can access support early, before they reach crisis point.

“The significant variation in suicide rates across different areas also highlights the importance of targeted local prevention efforts and equitable access to mental health support.

“Too many people die by suicide, including some who are never able to access services. Local areas should be given the resources they need to implement key commitments set out in the national suicide prevention strategies for both Wales and England respectively. NHS England’s Staying safe from suicide guidance is also a long-overdue step toward safer, more humane care and should be implemented wherever possible.

"Suicide is not inevitable. We know that connectedness, strong community support, compassionate conversations and timely access to mental health care can save lives.

“Suicidal thoughts are more common than people realise, we just don’t talk about them often enough. There’s still so much stigma and fear around admitting if you’re struggling or having suicidal thoughts that it can stop people from telling others or asking for help."

The College’s two new resources provide practical advice on talking to someone in distress, accessing support and ways to stay safer during periods of crisis. They also address some of the common misconceptions about suicide, including that talking about suicide increases the risk of someone acting on their thoughts. 

Dr Alys Cole-King, lead author of the new resources, continues:

“It's vital that we can talk about suicide in a safe way and these resources will help people to do this. The guidance was developed by people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts alongside mental health professionals.

“They’ve been carefully designed to help people experiencing suicidal thoughts as well as family members, friends and others who may be worried about someone they care about but don’t know how best to help them.

“The resources are intended to provide hope, compassion and practical advice for people who may not know where to turn for help. They include information about safety planning and other practical steps people can take to help keep themselves safe and access support.

“It’s never too late to take positive action if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts, but the earlier someone seeks support, the easier it can be to address these thoughts. I hope that these resources help people realise that they matter, that support is available and that people can and do get through difficult times with the right help and support.”