Information requested:

(1) Number of patients who died by suicide who had a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), by sex and age group.

(2) Number of patients who died by suicide who had a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), by sex and age group.

Date requested: 16 January 2023

Response:

(1) In the UK between 1996-2019, 0.04% of patients who died by suicide had a primary diagnosis of BDD and 0.08% had a primary or secondary diagnosis of BDD. The majority (64%) were male.

(2) We collect data on OCD as part of an overall “anxiety disorders” diagnosis. In the UK between 2019-2019, there were 1,757 patients with a primary diagnosis of anxiety disorder. The majority (64%) were male. 8% were aged under 25; 39% were aged 25-44 years; 38% were aged 45-64 years, and 15% were aged 65 years and older.

Information requested:

(1) Number of patients who died by suicide who had a diagnosis of autism, by sex and age group.

Date requested: 9 February 2021

Response:

In the UK between 2008-2018, 0.5% of patients who died by suicide had a primary diagnosis of autism and 1% had a primary or secondary diagnosis of autism. The majority (81%) were male. 

Information requested:

(1) Number of young people aged 19 who died by suicide who identified as transgender and whether any of their characteristics were similar to young people aged 20-24 who died by suicide.

(2) Number of young people aged under 20 who died by suicide who had a diagnosis of autism.

Date requested: 4 July 2020

Response:

The number of young people aged 19 who died by suicide who identified as transgender is too small for us to report. 

In a 20% sample of 20-24 year olds who died by suicide during 2014 and 2015, we found 3% of 20-24 year olds were reported to be LGBT, compared to 6% of under 20 year olds.

There were different antecedents of suicide at different ages reflecting the changing circumstances of young people’s lives. Exam and academic pressures, bullying, and suicide-related internet use were more common in under 20s, while unemployment and housing, financial and workplace problems, excessive alcohol and illicit drug use were more common in 20-24 year olds.

Affective disorders and anxiety-related disorders were the most commonly reported diagnoses. The number of young people with other diagnoses, including autism were very small, and too small a number to be able to report. 

Information requested:

(1) Number of patients where their family was contacted when the patient missed their final appointment with services. 

Date requested: 19 November 2019

Response:

In England, between 2007 and 2017 (the period of our 2019 annual report) there were 685 (27%) patients who had missed their final appointment with mental health services and whose family was contacted by the mental health team. This proportion has increased significantly between 2007-2016 (we exclude the 2017 figure for trend analysis). The average percent in 2007-2011 was 25% and the average in 2013-2017 was 30%.

Information requested:

(1) Number of children and young people aged under 18 who died by suicide, including those were patients of psychiatric settings. 

Date requested: 20 March 2019

Response:

In the UK, between 2006 and 2016 (the period of our 2018 annual report) there were 182 (1% of the total number of suicide deaths in this period) children (under the age of 18) who died by suicide or undetermined death. 

In this period (2006-2016), 14 children aged under 18 were patients of psychiatric settings at the time of death.

Information requested:

(1) Number of children and young people aged under 20 who died by suicide who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Date requested: 4 September 2018

Response:

Based on the sample from our 2017 report Suicide by children and young people (January 2014 – December 2016), 13 (5%) were LGBT young people and 4 (1%) were reported to be uncertain about their sexual orientation. Of these 13, 9 were homosexual and 4 were bisexual.

Information requested:

(1) Proportion of in-patient suicides using electrical cords

Date requested: 22 August 2018

Response:

Based on our England and Wales report sample (2005-2015), there were 285 deaths by hanging on the ward. Where the information was known, 10 (4%) of these deaths used electrical cords, including chargers for electrical devices.

Information requested:

(1) Proportion of in-patient suicides occurring on secure units

Date requested: 20 July 2018

Response:

Based on our UK report sample (2005-2015), there were 1,162 in-patient suicides (actual numbers). Of these, 359 (31%) died on the ward itself. 27 of those in-patient deaths occurred on a low or medium secure unit, or in a high secure hospital.

Information requested:

(1) Proportion of in-patient suicide deaths occurring at night (e.g. 11pm to 7am)

Date requested: 14 June 2018

Response:

Between 2011-2016, there were 464 in-patient suicides (actual numbers). Of these, 54 (16% excluding unknowns [out of 338]) died at night between 11pm-7am (24 on the ward, 30 off the ward). 150 (33%) in-patients died on the ward. Of these, 24 (20% excluding unknowns) died at night. 20 (83%) died by hanging/strangulation, 18 of those in either a single bedroom or shared room. 

Information requested:

1. Place of residence at time of suicide by people with dementia
2. Proportion of in-patients

Date requested: 20 March 2018

Response:

Based on our UK report sample (2005-2015), there were 193 patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of dementia who died by suicide – this number was projected up to 203 cases to take into account delays in data received from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Of the 193 cases, the majority (154, 80%) were living at home and 26 (13%) were in a nursing home/residential care. There were 13 in-patients with dementia, representing 7%, similar to the total patient population (8%).

Information requested:

Total number of homicides committed by older people

Date requested: 15 March 2018

Response:

For the 11 years between 01/01/2005 and 31/12/2015 there were 86 (1.4%) (N=6,004) homicide offenders who were aged over 65 at the time of their offence.

Information requested:

1. Rates of suicide in men aged under 25 in the report sample 2005-2015
2. Rates of suicide in men aged 25-34 in the report sample 2005-2015
3. Key features of male patients who died by suicide in 2015
4. Age breakdown of male patients who died by suicide in 2015

Date requested: 2 March 2018

Response:

1. Rates of suicide in men aged under 25 in England, 2005-2015

No trend

2. Rates of suicide in men aged 25-34 in England, 2005-2015

Significant fall in rates, no trend in number

3. Characteristics of male patients who died by suicide in England in 2015

Note: projected figures to account for delays in data return

4. Age breakdown male suicides, 2015

Information requested:

1. The number of suicides by burning
2. The number of in-patient suicides by burning

Date requested: 5 February 2018

Response:

The most recent year on which NCISH data is available is 2015. For the UK, we can provide the number of people who died by suicide by burning, and the number of patients who died by suicide by burning for the calendar years 2014 and 2015, and for our most recent report  period 2005-2015, with patients defined as those in contact with mental health services in the 12 months prior to death.

Due to small numbers, we are unable to provide the number of in-patients who died by suicide by burning for individual years. This is consistent with our previous practice, and with advice from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) about suppression of numbers below which patient identification would be likely.

Suicide by burning (UK-wide)