An article described the pattern of mortality by day of the week in deaths from suicide and drug-related poisoning. An increased proportion of suicides occurred on Mondays.
Source: Helen Johnson, Anita Brock, Clare Griffiths and Cleo Rooney, 'Mortality from suicide and drug-related poisoning by day of the week in England and Wales, 1993 2002', Health Statistics Quarterly 27, Autumn 2005, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
There were 5,755 adult suicides in England and Wales in 2003, the lowest number since 1973.
Source: Suicide Rates in England and Wales, 2000 to 2003, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (Excel file) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A national inquiry into self-harm among young people published its third interim report. It said that professionals in residential settings needed a better understanding of self-harm.
Source: Closed Settings, Closed Minds? - Young people who self-harm, Camelot Foundation (020 7828 6085)and Mental Health Foundation
Links: Report (Word file)
Date: 2005-Mar
The second annual report was published measuring the progress of the national suicide prevention strategy for England. The overall death rate from suicide in the most recent period (2001-2003) had fallen to 8.6 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to the baseline rate of 9.2 in 1995-1997. The suicide rate for young men had fallen to its lowest level for almost 20 years, having dropped almost 30 per cent from its peak in 1998.
Source: National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England: Annual report on progress 2004, National Institute for Mental Health in England/National Health Service (0113 254 5000)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release | Age Concern press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
A report investigated government strategies, existing practice and voluntary sector initiatives (across a range of educational settings) associated with young people and self-harm. Young people who had self-harmed believed that educational settings were the most appropriate place for topics such as self-harm to be tackled: they felt that there was a need for clear information and advice specific to self-harm to be made widely available within different educational settings something that was not being undertaken.
Source: National Self-Harm Inquiry, What s Happening & Who Knows?: Educational settings and young people who self-harm, Mental Health Foundation (020 7802 0300) and Camelot Foundation
Links: Report (Word file) | Inquiry press release | Young People Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan