HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc292-3W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suicides there were in each of the last 20 years; and if ho will make a statement. [164917]

Mr. Pearson

The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland per annum from 1984 to 2003 caused by "suicide and self-inflicted injury"1 and the number of registered deaths due to "undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted"2

The Promoting Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan published last year includes a specific section on preventing suicide. Preventative action includes promoting coping skills in the general population, suicide awareness programmes and targeted work with vulnerable groups. In addition action is also being taken under the Drug and Alcohol Strategies to support and counsel those affected by addiction problems.

1International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes X60–X84, Y87.0 for years 2001–03 and Ninth Revision codes E950–E959 for years 1983–2000. 2International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes Y10–Y34, Y87.2 for years 2001–03 and Ninth Revision codes E980–E989 for years 1983–2000.

Table: Number of registered deaths by year in Northern Ireland

resulting from by suicide and self-inflicted injury or undetermined

injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted

Registration

year

Suicide and

self-inflicted

injury

Undetermined injury

whether accidentally or

purposefully inflicted

Total

deaths

1984 109 14 123
1985 117 40 157
1986 145 29 174
1987 86 36 122
1988 153 30 183
1989 116 18 134
1990 158 10 168
1991 129 19 148
1992 107 21 128
1993 129 22 151
1994 138 13 151
1995 122 24 146
1996 124 19 143
1997 120 18 138
1998 126 24 150
1999 121 33 154
2000 163 22 185
2001 141 17 158
2002 162 21 183
2003
(Provisional) 132 12 144

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