Men have higher suicide rate than women in Portsmouth
The number of men committing suicide in Portsmouth is more than 2.5 times that of women, figures have revealed.
Latest data from the Office for National Statistics show that 123 men committed suicide compared to 47 women.
The Portsmouth figures — from 2014 to 2019 — reflect the national trend. Samaritans research shows that across the UK men remain three times more likely to take their own lives than women.
This could be due to many different reasons. Women generally have more attention paid to mental health, whereas it is suggested that men don’t always speak up if they have a problem.
In the long term, it could lead to bigger problems manifesting such as depression.
Adam Cox, a lecturer in Economics and Finance at the University of Portsmouth, suggesting economics can be a factor.
“People become more pessimistic when they anticipate periods of financial hardship…This can trigger relationship ruptures and social isolation which are potentially conducive to higher suicidal intent,” he said.
People aged 29 and below had the highest amount of suicide rates in Portsmouth.
These ages can be stressful as it is when pressures are high to find a secure job, buy a house or begin to settle down and start a family.
Mr Cox added: “I found that bad news about the economy, it does increase suicide rates.”
Female suicide rates show a slight rise in 2015 and 2018 with nine being the highest number of deaths.
In 2018, Portsmouth put into place a ‘Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2018–2021’ aiming to reduce the rate of suicides in the city by 10% over three years, wanting to spread awareness, increase research, and set up support groups accessible to everyone.
Improving wellbeing, poverty and resilience on education is also an ambition. Once the data has been published for 2020 and later 2021, city health chiefs will be able to see whether their plan has worked.
