§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the rate of suicide among men aged 15 to 24 has risen by 71 per cent. in 10 years; and, if so, why.
§ Baroness CumberlegeThe methods most commonly used for measuring suicide rates show that the increase in suicides and undetermined deaths amongst men aged 15 to 24 exceeded 70 per cent. for the period 1982 to 1992, the latest figure available.
The causes of suicide amongst young men are many and various, but the available research suggests that previous deliberate self-harm, substance abuse, and psychiatric illness are amongst the main risk factors.
It is because of government concern about these trends that we have included suicides as one of our target areas in the mental health section of the Health of the Nation strategy.