Suicide Audit- County Durham 2005-2012 data

1. Suicide Audit- County Durham2005-2012 data Catherine Richardson Public Health

2. National context

3. Number of suicides year on year in County Durham

4. Suicide rate by locality in 2012

5. Average suicide rates for the last 8 years

6. Mapping of suicides by LSOA since 2005

7. 3 most common places outside of homes where people take their own lives • Wooded area • Railway • Home of friends and family

8. Residence of those taking their own lives in relation to railway lines; note proximity to railway lines

9. Mosaic- allocation of those taking own life to 7 ‘supergroups’ Based on postcode; those committing suicide are more likely to be lower income residents and social housing tenants (index value >100)

10. Mosaic- allocation by ‘group’

11. Results; 2005-2012 data • 81% male; age distribution shown below Number of suicides Age

12. Trends over time… Number of suicides Year

13. Characteristics of those taking their own life • 62.8% were divorced, separated, single, or widowed • 32.2% lived alone • 30% were unemployed • The most common method was hanging/strangulation

14. Characteristics of those who take their own life, continued • 58.9% were recorded as having a mental health problem • 39.2% had a history of self-harm • 20% had significant alcohol intake recorded • 13% were drug users • 53% had a history of involvement with Criminal justice system (CJS)

15. Contact with services • 44% had contact with their GP in the 3 months before death • 37.9% had contact with mental health services in the 12 months before their death, of these; • 82% unemployed • 37% lived alone • 68% single • 57% contact with CJS • 37% noted as having alcohol problem • 18% recorded as drug users • 16.5% had been admitted by the mental health services during this time

16. Themes for those where multiple triggers thought to be relevant

17. So, overall, most common triggers are;

18. Is the economic crisis going to spell more suicides in County Durham?

19. Recommendations in terms of service provision • Mental health services and primary care need to ensure those at risk of suicide are identified • Improved communication between services • Commissioning of services need to meet the requirements of those with key risk factors • Evidence suggests informal support services and reduction of access to means are highly effective interventions for reducing suicides

20. What is already available in County Durham ? • Bereavement • U Care Share deliver family practical support incl a home visit • Cruse deliver bereavement support • As part of counselling provision; bereavement counselling • Financial support is currently delivered through CAB with focussed delivery for people suffering mental distress. • Welfare Rights service targeted at those with poor mental health • Acounty wide relationship support service is available through ‘Relate’. Couples counselling is offered through IAPT and some volunteer organisations also offer support. • Community support through CREE (sheds project)

21. Suicide prevention • Develop plan to make County Durham a Suicide Safer County • Implement suicide community response programme including early alert process for individuals at risk of suicide or self-harm  • Build capacity within services and communities through delivery of suicide prevention training • Evaluate suicide bereavement services

22. Suicide prevention action plan • Refreshing the early alert system – County Durham will be one of only a few areas nationally taking part in a pilot of a new early alert. • Self-harm subgroup whose initial focus is on data and standardisation of audit tools. • Media/communications subgroup and action plan to cover the sensitive reporting of suicide, use of the internet, media training, public information campaigns

23. Suicide prevention action plan • To enhance the role of the voluntary sector to support those from high risk groups • To ensure accessible information and timely support is available to those bereaved by suicide • Audit process: there is a need to review the current audit tool and the amount and types of reports being requested to ensure the audit is fit for purpose and to reduce duplication of effort. • County Durham to become a Suicide Safer County. A suicide safer county is one that has demonstrated a commitment to suicide prevention, promoting wellness and mental health, an ability to talk openly and freely about suicide and support to those bereaved by suicide