§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo 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. PearsonThe 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
293WThe 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