According to Samaritans, understanding suicide statistics can help us to better target action and prevent suicide.
And tragically, action to prevent suicide is sorely needed. Research shows that suicide presents an international public health challenge. These effects have also permeated into our workplaces, with suicides relating to workplace issues also rising.
In this article, we’re going explore how prevalent thoughts of suicide and self-harm are – both within the wider population and our workforces.
Note: Looking for statistics on mental health more broadly? Read this article for a comprehensive look at mental health statistics.
Suicide statistics
Below, we’ve summarised the most up-to-date data available around suicidal thoughts statistics – as well as statistics around instances of suicide and thoughts of self-harm. This data will be regularly amended to reflect the latest research.
Here are the latest suicide statistics, including suicide and self-harm:
- Over 700,000 people take their own life each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds (World Health Organization)
- 115 people die by suicide in the UK every week – with 75% of those deaths being male (ONS)
- 1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts (NHS Digital)
- 1 in 14 people self-harm (NHS Digital)
- 1 in 15 people attempt suicide (NHS Digital)
- Males aged 45-49 have the highest suicide rate (Samaritans)
- 10% of young people self-harm (Mental Health Foundation)
- 5,579 suicides were registered in England in 2023, equivalent to a rate of 11.1 suicide deaths per 100,000 people(ONS)
- Of the 1,439 suicides reported in England in Q4 2023, 1,051 were men (ONS)
- Globally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds (World Health Organization)
- Those who have previously attempted suicide are more likely to die by suicide (World Health Organization)
The experts at Champion Health have also analysed data that looks at the prevalence of thoughts of suicide and self-harm within the workplace. Read on to discover these statistics.
Suicide statistics within organisations
This year, Champion Health revealed the prevalence of thoughts of suicide and self-harm among employees in the Workplace Health Report 2024.
We set out to discover the health challenges faced by UK employees in every area of wellbeing, from mental health and stress to financial wellbeing, musculoskeletal health, productivity and beyond.
We have also explored even more recent Champion Health data on suicide in our guide: Reducing the Risk of Suicide.
(Keep an eye out for our next guide: No More Losses: Suicide Prevention & The Workplace – coming soon)
For both reports, using clinically validated measures, the team analysed the anonymous data of thousands of employees, across a range of sectors and demographics.
The result was a comprehensive range of employee wellbeing statistics, with the data around thoughts of suicide and self-harm showing:
- 12% of employees are currently experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Of those experiencing suicidal thoughts, 14% are experiencing them nearly every single day
- Nearly 1 in 2 employees have accessed support for their mental health at some point in their lives
Read on to explore these findings in more detail.
12% of employees are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Champion Health’s research found that 12% of employees are currently experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
As of June 2024, the UK workforce employs approximately 33 million people. Our latest data revealing that 12% of employees are experiencing suicidal thoughts – that’s almost 40,000 employees who are contemplating suicide every single day in this country.
These figures highlight the critical role that employers must play in preventing cases of employees taking their own lives.
2. Of those experiencing suicidal thoughts, 14% experience them every day
Equally as alarming as 12% of employees experiencing thoughts of suicide is the fact that 14% of them experience these thoughts nearly every day.
Read the following guide to discover what you – as an organisation, employer or colleague – can do to prevent instances of suicide: suicide prevention in the workplace.
3. And of those experience suicidal thoughts, 54% of women, 43% of men
While our data shows women are more likely to experience thoughts of suicide, research by ONS shows that men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.
There is still a clear need for organisations to prioritise reducing the stigma around male mental health in the workplace.
A great resource for men’s mental health is our webinar with Simon Blake of MHFA and Hayden Smith which you can watch here: Stigma, Shame & Silence: Lifting the Lid on Men’s Mental Health.
Employers must continue to focus on opening up the conversation around male mental health, and make the support that is available visible, accessible and stigma-free.
You can also access the following resources for ideas and guidance around how this can be done:
- Watch: Mental health training for leaders
- Watch: Talking about mental health: the leadership edition
- Read: Talking about Mental Health in a Staff Appraisal or 1:1
- Guide: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace
3. 11% of employees are currently receiving support for their mental health
As well as this, it is encouraging to see that nearly 1 in 2 employees have accessed support for their mental health at some point in their lives.
While we know suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 50, the numbers in this data may be higher for women due to a stronger propensity to seek help.
Our data shows that, of those seeking help for their mental health, only 30% were men – compared to women at 68%.
What you can do to reduce suicide
Suicide prevention will always be close to the heart of Champion Health. In 2018, our CEO and co-founder Harry Bliss lost his mentor to suicide, following a short bout of stress.
It is his legacy that has driven Champion to where it is today, and suicide prevention is something that will always drive the business.
Watch this video to find out more about Harry’s story.
As friends, leaders, managers and colleagues, we all have a vital role in preventing cases of suicide. You don’t have to become a GP, counsellor or mental health expert to make a huge difference.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact one of the services in the graphic below.
For organisations wanting to make a difference, Harry recommends they take the following actions:
- Train your team in mental health (there are many cost-effective ways to do this)
- Embed wellbeing into every employee survey
- Make wellbeing a KPI at board level
- Get every director to sign a pledge to support employee mental health
- Effectively communicate your wellbeing strategy and initiatives
If you’re concerned about a colleague, access these resources for guidance and advice.
- How to support a colleague in crisis
- How to talk about mental health at work
- Depression in the workplace | How to Support Your Employees
- The CLASS Approach: how to support others
- How to spot mental health issues at work
As Harry says, “By coming together collectively, we can change and save lives. If you already know you’re doing everything you can as an organisation to support your employees and prevent incidences of suicide, thank you. Thank you from the people you’ve helped when they needed you the most.”
