Mental health patient suicide

On this page:

• Overview
  • Number of mental health patients who died by suicide, by sex in the UK and Jersey
  • Number of mental health patients who died by suicide, by UK country
• Patient characteristics

Overview

There were 18,670 patients who died by suicide (i.e. people in contact with mental health services within 12 months of suicide) in the UK and Jersey in 2012-2022. This represents 26% of all suicide deaths, an average of 1,697 deaths per year (see the map showing suicide in the general and patient population for figures by country).

There was an increase in the number of patient suicides occurring from 2018 in line with the change in the standard of proof (Office for National Statistics) for suicide that began in 2018. We did not see an increase during COVID-19 years and are currently estimating lower figures in 2020-2022. The number of suicides in England increased in 2018 and has been stable since, though this may yet increase in 2021-2022 following further inquests. The number in Scotland has remained lower in 2014-2022 compared to figures in 2012-2013.

Number of mental health patients who died by suicide, by sex in the UK and Jersey

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Number of mental health patients who died by suicide, by UK country

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Patient characteristics

• Method of suicide
• Social and clinical characteristics of mental health patients who died by suicide
• Diagnosis and service contact of mental health patients who died by suicide

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