Largest UK study of suicide by black and ethnic minority people launched

February 15, 2005
by Mike Andrews

Two university research teams plan to find methods to reduce the rate of suicide by black and ethnic minority people by launching the biggest UK review of its kind.

As part of the government's target to reduce suicide rates by a fifth by 2010, the department of health and the national institute for mental health in England (NIMHE) produced, in 2002, a national suicide prevention strategy.

The strategy appears to have made good progress. Last month, a government report showed the overall death rate from suicide between 2001-03 fell to 8.6 deaths per 100,000 population. This marks a reduction of 6% from 1995-7 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.

But black and ethnic minority groups are not targeted specifically, and researchers say there is little accurate and contemporary data available on the risk of suicide in different ethnic groups in the UK.

This is due, in part, to the fact that British death certificates do not record any details of an individual's racial or cultural identity. It remains unclear who is at increased risk, and why.

The new study - by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London and University College London - plans to analyse data from a range of sources, identifying key risk areas, and developing culturally specific approaches to reduce the rate of suicide in ethnic groups.

Professor Kamaldeep Bhui, joint lead researcher on the project, said. "Although mental health is a government priority, it's vital to ensure that any policy or mental health strategy is relevant to all citizens and that all ethnic groups benefit from such work.

"We're hoping to get the best picture we've ever had of suicide risk factors in black and ethnic minority groups. This will help support the national suicide prevention policies and strategy."

The study is being carried out in conjunction with Dr Kwame McKenzie of the Royal Free University College London Medical School.

The pair are asking all researchers and institutions in the UK with data on suicide or attempted suicide in ethnic minorities to contact them.

They will reanalyse the data to investigate social, psychological, economic and geographical risk factors for suicide in ethnic groups. They say this information is vital for policy development.

In the UK there are approximately 5000 suicides per year, and considerably more deaths from suicide than from road traffic accidents.

Around 5,000 people take their own lives in England every year and suicide is the most common cause of death in men under 35.

In all countries, suicide is now one of the three leading causes of death among people aged 15 - 34 years; until recently, suicide was predominating among the elderly, but in a third of all countries suicide now predominates in younger people.

The male suicide rate is higher than the rate for females.

See also:
Jan 24, 2005: Lowest suicide rate for young men for nearly 20 years, says government report

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