Suicide rates among men rise to ten-year high

The number of suicides in the UK rose "significantly" in 2011, official figures revealed today, with the rate of men taking their own lives reaching its highest level for nearly a decade.

Men aged 30 to 44 remained the most likely to take their own lives – as they have since 2001 – but since 2007 those aged between 45 and 59 have seen the biggest suicide increase of any age group and now have the highest rate since 1986. Overall, the suicide rate rose by 8 per cent on 2010.

The Care and Support minister, Norman Lamb, said the problem needed to be tackled "head on". The Samaritans attributed the rise to the economic downturn.