This shows that England has hit a record low with significant progress being made in reducing suicides especially among youngsters. The report shows a 7.5% drop in suicides among young men aged 20-34 between 2003-05 and 2004-06.
Observing statistics, there were 145 suicides among mental health in-patients in 2005 compared with 157 in 2004.The number of suicides among people in contact with mental health services also dropped, from 1,308 in 2004 to 1,277 in 2005.
On the other hand, the number of suicides in prison rose to 82 in 2007-08 from 71 in 2006-07.
The report raised concerns about the impact of insensitive media reporting of suicide. It has attracted criticism over the way it handled a series of suicides in the Bridgend region of Wales. Critics feel that such reporting may encourage copy-cat behavior.
Ivan Lewis, the Care Services Minister, described the drop in suicides among young men and mental health in-patients as "encouraging". He quoted, "We must do more to tackle the rise in prison suicides and promote sensitive media reporting of suicides."
The suicide prevention strategy for England was launched in September 2002 to support a government target of cutting the suicide rate by at least 20% by 2010.
Celia Richardson, of the Mental Health Foundation feels it unlikely that the government's target will be met by the decided date. She hopes for an unchanged momentum for suicide prevention even after this period.
She said, "We are particularly keen to see community-based approaches being implemented across the country."
Marjorie Wallace, of the mental health charity SANE, said more deaths could be prevented if more crisis numbers were made available within mental health service. This would help identify those at risk and help could be offered to them more easily.
She states that fifty percent of mental trusts don’t have a crisis number that people can use when they believe their life has become unbearable.
The report highlights action being taken around the country to try to reduce suicides.
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