Rising suicide rates need population level interventions
BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3852 (Published 07 October 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m3852
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Dear Editor,
Woody Caan made an important assertion that adult suicide rates will only reduce once policy makers tackle health inequalities, with particular consideration needed regarding adverse childhood experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic (Letters, 10 October).
Currently, the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) publishes suicide statistics broken down by only a few characteristics, such as age, sex and geographical area. However, it is vital that future ONS suicide data includes information on additional characteristics such as ethnicity and immigration status (including asylum seeker/refugee status), which coroners’ inquests are not currently required to record. This data is already routinely recorded by many other countries, such as Sweden, where it has been used to demonstrate an eight times higher suicide rate in refugee youths compared with Swedish-born youths (1). This information is essential to understand fully the impact of health and social inequalities on suicide rates in the UK, to plan targeted interventions, and to determine whether progress is being made to narrow this health inequality gap.
1. Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Hagström A, Hollander A-C. High suicide rates among unaccompanied minors/youth seeking asylum in Sweden. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. 2020;41(4):314-7.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Rising suicide rates need population level interventions
Dear Editor
I am grateful to Prof Caan for highlighting the need for population level interventions. Although I am doubtful if the current political powers will do anything to level up the disparities. Of course we can expect platitudes.
Competing interests: No competing interests