Suicide rates above national average, with many more men taking their lives than women
Almost three quarters of suicides in the county in recent years have been of men
By Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter
North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has announced steps it is taking to reduce the number of suicides in the area, after figures show rates are above the national average.
A particular focus on prevention for men aged between 45 to 64 years old has also been highlighted, as an audit demonstrated that the group had âhigher risk factorsâ than others.
A report being taken to the councilâs health and wellbeing board next week (Tuesday, November 9) has emphasised the authorityâs objectives to strengthen work to reduce self-harm and suicide prevention and reduce wider mental health-related inequities.
A retrospective suicide audit undertaken for North Northants indicates higher rates among males compared to females and also identifies evidence of several triggers within the profile of those who died, including bereavement, loneliness and social factors.
In North Northamptonshire, as of 2023, hospital admissions as a result of self-harm were 131.8 per 100,000 population, which is higher than the national average of 126.3. National research from the Coronersâ Suicide Audit found that half of those who died by suicide had a history of self-harm and/or previous suicide attempts.
Figures for the county show that in 2021 there were 83 suicides in the county; in 2022 73 people died by suicide and 71 people died in 2023. In all of those three years, almost three quarters of those who died were male.
It was also noted in the report that people living with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) â for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression â face one of the greatest health inequality gaps in England, with life expectancy 15 to 20 years shorter than that for the general population.
Council documents state it is estimated that 50 per cent of deaths in people living with SMI are attributable to smoking and also highlight a need for an increased focus on reducing smoking in this cohort and investigating opportunities to improve their physical health.
The council has set out various projects planned, including rolling out training to NNC customer service on âcompassionate conversationsâ, the development of a new council Suicide Prevention Strategy and action plan, and discussions to develop an SMI and smoking cessation training.
Another initiative highlighted is the Orange Button scheme, which is a community-based suicide prevention initiative that trains individuals to become identifiable points of contact for those in emotional distress and wear an orange button to signal that they are safe to approach and can listen, support, and signpost to help.
The issue will be discussed further at the Corby Cube council chamber next week.
"Like"not really appropriate ... but I applaud NNJ yet again for covering important issues in our area.
As someone who has been suicidal earlier in my life, I feel the orange button scheme is not even a token gesture of help.
I remember what it felt like. While in the grips of feeling the worst I ever did there would have been no way I would have felt motivated enough to leave the house, go to the Corby Cube or to a library to look for a staff member wearing an orange badge to have a 'compassionate conversation'.
Our NHS mental health support needs to help people long before they reach breaking point.
It needs to be more than simply medicating people and pushing them out the door.
We need more trained therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists to deliver tailored support that lasts as long as needed. Not simply a limited number of sessions.
Community support needs to be supplied in an accessible manner, to include those who would prefer online as well as inperson group support. During covid it was no problem for our local NHS to supply online group support, but since then online options have all been removed.
Currently the support for people being discharged from local NHS mental health treatment is incredibly limited and is predominantly pushed upon the 3rd sector, such as Mind crisis cafes. Using charities that are already oversubscribed and under funded is the future plan for this support going forward for the NHS. As long as this is the case, lives will be lost.