McGrath expresses concern at rise in suicide deaths in NI
Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA (SDLP) has raised serious concerns at the rise in suicides in Northern Ireland.
The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistical Research Agency (NISRA) show the three-year average for registered suicides rose from 204.7 in 2017 to 220.3 in both 2020 and 2022, and 238.0 in 2024.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death in males under 50 in Northern Ireland.
The South Down MLA said: “These figures are stark and sobering. Every one of those statistics represents a life tragically cut short, with devastated family and friends left behind with questions that will never be answered.
“We have higher suicide rates than anywhere in Britain, with many of the victims being single men and this demands a serious response.
“There are many complicated reasons why people chose to take their own lives, but it’s deeply concerning that we are seeing a significant increase in suicides in Northern Ireland.
“It’s clear that we are not doing enough to address a wide range of issues from mental health and addiction to poverty and the legacy of our past.
“This news comes shortly after the Health Minister announced that the vast majority of the Mental Health Strategy would not proceed.
“In the absence of meaningful intervention from our health service and lack of adequate crisis intervention services, we are relying on the community and voluntary sector to step up and support people in these times, with diminished funding every year.
“Our health service must do better when it comes to mental health interventions.
“However, if we are serious about addressing the high number of suicides then we need to see an Executive-wide response to address the underlying issues across our society.”
