‘Stark and sobering’ suicide figures show 47% increase in Derry/Strabane deaths in ten years

SDLP MLA Mark H. Durkan expressed alarm over new figures released on Thursday.

“These figures are stark and sobering. Every one of those statistics represents a life tragically cut short, with devastated family and friends left behind with questions that will never be answered. We have higher suicide rates than anywhere in Britain, with many of the victims being single men and this demands a serious response,” he said.

Mr. Durkan was speaking as the Northern Ireland Research and Statistics Agency (NISRA) published fresh data showing the three-year average for registered suicides in the North rose from 204.7 in 2017 to 220.3 in both 2020 and 2022, and 238.0 in 2024.

In Derry and Strabane the number of registered suicides rose from 15 in 2015 to 22 last year, a 47 per cent rise.

In 2024 there were 16 deaths in the Foyle constituency area and 14 deaths in West Tyrone.

And there were 50 deaths within the Western Trust geography.

Across the North suicide remains the leading cause of death in males under 50.

Of all male deaths registered in 2024 where the deceased was under 50 years of age (690),151 were to suicide (21.9%).

In 2024, 230 (79.3 per cent) of the 290 suicide deaths in 2024 were males and 60 (20.7 per cent) were females. The age-standardised mortality rate for males was 28.0 per 100,000 in 2024, while for females, the equivalent rate was 7.1 per 100,000.

Mr. Durkan observed: “There are many complicated reasons why people chose to take their own lives, but it’s deeply concerning that we are seeing a significant increase in suicides in Northern Ireland. It’s clear that we are not doing enough to address a wide range of issues from mental health and addiction to poverty and the legacy of our past.

“This news comes shortly after the Health Minister announced that the vast majority of the Mental Health Strategy would not proceed. In the absence of meaningful intervention from our health service and lack of adequate crisis intervention services we are relying on the community and voluntary sector to step up and support people in these times, with diminished funding every year.

“Our health service must do better when it comes to mental health interventions, but if we are serious about addressing the high number of suicides then we need to see an Executive-wide response to address the underlying issues across our society.”

There is help available around the clock, every single day of the year.

Contact:

Minding Your Head at http://www.mindingyourhead.info

Lifeline – a free 24-hour crisis response helpline for people who are experiencing distress or despair, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow up with other support if necessary. Phone 0808 808 8000 Website http://www.lifelinehelpline.info

Samaritans – a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide throughout UK and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline or online chat. Freephone 116 123 Website https://www.samaritans.org/