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The suicide rate for men in the North East has risen to its highest rate in more than 25 years.

The rate for men rose to 22.1 per 100,000 men in 2013, from 18.9 in 2012, with 229 men killing themselves in 2013. This was the highest rate since 23.1 in 1988. The suicide rate for men has been rising from a historic low of 16.5 in 2010.

The suicide rate for women in the North East has also risen to an eight year high at 5.9 deaths per 100,000 women, or 66 deaths, up from 4.3 in 2012, and has risen from a low of 3.9 in 2009.

Across the UK, the suicide rate for men rose to 19 per 100,000 men in 2013, from 17.9 in 2012, with 4,858 men killing themselves in 2013. This was the highest rate since 2001, when it was 19.1 per 100,000.

The suicide rate for men has been rising from a historic low of 16.6 in 2007, although it dipped slightly in 2010.

For women the suicide rate was 5.1 per 100,000 women, among lowest levels it has been, Female rates have stayed relatively constant since 2007.

When male suicide rates are analysed by five broad age groups, the 30 to 44 age group had the highest rate from 1995 to 2012. However, in 2013, the 45 to 59 age group had the highest suicide rate out of any age group, having increased since 2007 to reach 25.1 deaths per 100,000 population, the highest rate since 1981. The rate for 60 to 74 year olds rose significantly from its 2012 level, to 14.5 per 100,000 in 2013.

In contrast, the 15 to 29 age group was the only group to have a decrease in the age-specific rate in 2013.

Suicide remains the leading cause of death in England and Wales for men aged between 20 and 34 years of age (24% of all deaths in 2013) and for men aged 35 to 49 years (13% of all deaths in 2013).

Female age-specific suicide rates remained relatively constant since 2008. Since 2002, the highest rate has been for those aged 45-59; in 2013 the rate for this group was 7.0 deaths per 100,000 population. The lowest rate has been for those aged 15-29, where the 2013 rate was 2.9 deaths per 100,000.

As with men, suicide is the leading cause of death among women aged between 20 and 34 years of age in England and Wales, accounting for 12% of all deaths registered in this age group in 2013. It is the third leading cause of death for those aged 35 to 49 in 2013 (6%)

In 2013, a total of 6,233 suicides of people aged 15 and over were registered in the UK.

Joe Ferns, Samaritans’s executive director of policy, research and development, said the increase in suicide rates was “sadly not surprising” in the context of a “challenging economic environment”.

“The excessive risk of suicide in men at mid-life continues to be a concern,” he said. “The rate for this group has now reached its highest level for more than 30 years. These figures cannot be ignored.”

Mr Ferns said a recent report by the charity found men from lower socio-economic backgrounds and living in deprived areas were approximately 10 times more likely to die by suicide than those in affluent areas.

“Sadly, we know that suicide is an inequality affecting people in the most deprived areas from the most disadvantaged backgrounds,” he added.

# Anyone in distress or need some support, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90 or visit their website http://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you