Suicide rates in city are dropping
Incidents of suicide in Wolverhampton are dropping, figures have revealed – with 15 registered in the city during 2018 compared to 2005 when there were 35 cases.
The lowest number of suicides recorded in recent years was 13 in 2010. There has been a general downward trend overall in rates since 2002, with the recent reduction equivalent to a 40 per cent drop from the preceding years.
However, the city’s health bosses have said they will always continue to strive for more preventative measures.
Speaking to the council’s adults and safer city scrutiny panel about prioritising suicide prevention in a report to members yesterday, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing Councillor Jasbir Jaspal said: “Wolverhampton’s suicide rate was significantly higher against West Midlands and England rates until 2008.
“Since 2008, the Wolverhampton suicide rate (nine per 100,000 population) has broadly been in line with regional and England averages.
“Men continue to make up three quarters of all suicides. To address this, I want to adopt targeted approaches that help increase the mental wellbeing of men, as well as the population at large.
“This is something we have already started and are working in partnership with Wolves Community Foundation Trust to deliver the ‘Head for Health’ project hosted at Molineux.
“I want to further strengthen the role and governance of the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum (SPSF) to enable external funds to be drawn in and enable city-wide mental wellbeing and suicide prevention campaign delivery,” she added.
“I want to establish a stronger relationship with the Black Country Coroner so that I can understand the circumstances of individuals who unfortunately take their lives by suicide in a more timely manner.
“This will enable us to identify key issues and respond more effectively. It will also allow us, and our partners, to support families and loved ones bereaved by a suicide.
“I would like us to note that recent legislative changes have meant that the standard of proof required for a suicide conclusion should be the civil standard (balance of probabilities) rather than the previous criminal standard (beyond reasonable doubt),” said Cllr Jaspal.
“As a result, it is likely we will see an increase in registered suicides.”
Mayor of Wolverhampton in May 2019, Councillor Claire Darke selected the SPSF, which was set up in 2015, as one of her chosen charities when she first took up the role in May last year.
