Suicide map reveals hidden mental health crisis in Manchester's Rusholme
For the first time ever, suspected suicides have been mapped to every single constituency in the UK by data and polling platform Suffrago, coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day. Previously, these critical figures were only available at a local authority level.
The research has been published in a report this World Suicide Prevention Day' - ‘Modelling Probable Suicides at Local Authority District to identify the prevalence of suicides across Constituencies.' It reveals Washington and Gateshead South has the highest estimated suicide risk (43 predicted cases), followed by Bristol North West (37 cases) and Manchester Rusholme (36 cases). The latest data from 2023 shows clear regional patterns, with northern constituencies featuring prominently in the highest-risk areas.
The constituency-level mapping enables MPs, local council members and NHS commissioners to understand the scale of suicide risk within their specific areas, allowing them to make informed decisions about prevention initiatives and direct resources to the most vulnerable communities.
Dr Simon Wallace, co-founder at Suffrago and author of the report said: "With something as sensitive as suicide, prevention begins with understanding the scale of the problem, yet that picture has been missing at a local level.”
Adding: “At Suffrago, we've built this picture of suicide risk by constituency because we believe we can't prevent what we can't see. By shining a light on where help is most needed, we give communities and health the insight to have the conversations that save lives, and every life saved matters."
The research confirms established patterns showing higher suicide rates in more deprived areas and among middle-aged men, while providing new granular insight at a constituency level. This enhanced local data supports the UK government's suicide prevention strategy, which aims to reduce suicide rates through targeted local interventions.
Suffrago's analysis incorporates demographic factors including age, gender, and deprivation to model probable suicide rates across all 650 UK parliamentary constituencies, using official data from the Office for National Statistics, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, and National Records Scotland.
The analysis reveals stark demographic patterns with unprecedented insights; socioeconomic deprivation remains a strong predictor of suicide rates, though its impact varies significantly across regions. Some regions with low levels of deprivation still exhibit unexpectedly high suicide risk, suggesting that local context plays a critical role. Mid-life age groups, particularly those aged 35-54, face elevated risks.
The constituencies with the highest estimated suicide risk are:
- Washington and Gateshead South (43 predicted cases)
- Bristol North West (37 cases)
- Manchester Rusholme (36 cases)
- Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (35 cases)
- Belfast East (28 cases)
- Salford (26 cases)
- Liverpool Wavertree (26 cases)
- Blyth and Ashington (25 cases)
- Liverpool Riverside (25 cases)
- Cramlington and Killingworth (23 cases)
If you are experiencing distress or are affected by any of the issues discussed in this report, support is available. You can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.