Rising 15 to 19 suicide rates spark a focus on self-harm

The National Suicide Prevention Strategy is strengthening its focus on self-harm prevention in light of increasing concerns about young people’s mental health.

The third progress report of the cross-government National Suicide Prevention Strategy – published earlier this month by the Department of Health – expands the strategy to include self-harm prevention in its own right and warns about rising rates of emotional problems and self-harm in young people.

Suicide rates in England have been rising since 2007, making suicide the biggest killer of men under-50 and one of the leading causes of death for young people and new mothers.

In young people, rates of suicide between the ages of 10 and 29 have remained stable since 2005. However, there is concern that suicide rates for 15 to 19-year-olds have risen for the last three years running.