Our thanks to J for pointing us towards a new ONS report, on people of 15 or over committing suicide in the UK in 2013.
6,233 people committed suicide in 2013.
4,858 of them were men – 78% of the total.
The male/female suicide rate differential rose again, to 3.53:1. The differential has more than doubled since 1982, when it was under 1.7:1.
Suicide remains the leading cause of men in the 20-34 age range (24% of deaths) and 35-49 (13% of deaths). The government takes no interest in the matter, other than spinning the problem as the result of mental health issues, or men not seeking help. It’s a scandal of epic proportions. And we shouldn’t forget suicide is only the tip of an iceberg of male misery, much of it the direct consequence of the state’s actions and inactions.