Figures released in February by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that suicide rates, which had fallen consistently since 1981, are now at their highest in over a decade. It is primarily male suicides which have increased.
The figures for 2013 give a total of 6,233 deaths by suicide, 252 more than in 2012.
Suicide rates are highest in areas of high unemployment, with the north-east of England having the highest rate and London the lowest. Older males are now the most at risk, with 45-59 year olds having the highest rate.
The link between the welfare “reforms” and increased suicide risk has been highlighted by Mind, amongst other organisations. The charity has found that people with mental illnesses are having their benefits cut more than those with other kinds of illnesses.
There has been growing concern regarding how benefits are administered in relation to vulnerable individuals and last year, revelations that the Department for Work and Pensions had internally investigated 60 suicides related to benefit changes led to calls for greater accountabilty and transparency.
As an organisation, Mind is supportive of those with mental health problems being helped into work. But they find that often people are pushed before they are properly well. Research published last year by Mind found that people with mental illness were having their benefits cut more than people with other illnesses.
Most of the telephone calls to Mind’s national helpline are from those wanting to talk about suicide and self-harm, followed by advice on support services, mainly advocacy and welfare benefits.
Kauppinen, who has worked at Mind for 10 years, said that the team used to help people with mental health problems remain stable. But she said they have seen more clients in crisis in recent years.
“We see people in crisis every week,” she said. “I started here in 2005, but when it came to 2010-11, it became crisis work rather than having people just stay where they are.”
Tom Pollard, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, said:
“Pressurising people by threatening to stop their benefits causes a great deal of financial problems and emotional distress, with some people attempting to take their own lives as a result.”
“While the right type of employment can be beneficial to wellbeing, the support offered to those on mandatory back-to-work schemes such as the Work Programme is far too generic to effectively help people with mental health problems move towards employment. We need to see an overhaul of the system with more tailored specialised support and less focus on sanctioning.”
Kauppinen added: “There is very limited mental health awareness from people assessing clients in the new Work Programme. They find it very difficult to ask questions and you can see that the assessors are awkward. It takes a long time to train someone in mental health awareness.”
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If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the Samaritans, their number is: 08457 90 90 90.
Related:
Benefits and suicide: “You have to be strong to ask for help” – the Guardian.
Thanks to Robert Livingstone
Politics and Insights 
They are worse than just the Nasty Party, they are now the Evil Party.
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
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Reblogged this on The Greater Fool and commented:
Cutting the Welfare bill one death at a time.
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Reblogged this on Britain Isn't Eating.
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Reblogged this on Benefit tales.
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Reblogged this on Citizens, not serfs.
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There is a debt with the Devil and it has Ian Duncan Smith’s name on it in very large letters.
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Those who need help and only have an 0845/0870 or similar non-geographical phone number to use, they should use http://www.saynoto0870.com, I wouldn’t want them building up even MORE debt!!
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Reblogged this on nearlydead.
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Reblogged this on Ladyfreebird750's Blog and commented:
This is the secret shame of the UK..We are now living in a society where thanks to propaganda pieces such as Britain’s benefit tenants and any of the multitude of others all prefixed with Britain’s benefit….. Have created a nation that is riven with resentment for those with the least. The public gleefully latch onto the falsehood that as benefit rates are capped at twenty six thousand, then that is what goes into the claimant’s pocket.
Many even believe that people on benefits pay no utility bills, something that is completely wrong. The few that the cap is truly aimed at have done nothing but commit the heinous crime of living in London, in areas long associated with the lower paid that have suddenly become fashionable and therefore expensive. Hardly the fault of the low paid locals, yet suddenly they are supposed to up sticks and leave all they know both in home and community because suddenly they are in the wrong place.
The UK is finished as a society, we are living in a nation where too many selfish, self satisfied people who are all too happy to ignore the suffering of their neighbours because they believe they are all ‘on the fiddle’. Where Fred down the road suddenly becomes a consultant who can judge just by looking that his neighbour is swinging the lead to get a free ride and where the common assumption is as soon as you go onto benefits you instantly get the full sky package a 50″ tv and a drink, drug and smoking habit.
The reality is obviously polar opposite to this, it is a life where the choice is heat or eat, where more often than not parents go to bed with an empty stomach to ensure their children have eaten. Where bailiffs are an ever present threat because bills cannot completely be met.
It is a life where every day is filled with hopelessness, where brown envelopes bring the fear of hoops impossible to jump through and where taking away all support through sanctions is seen as an acceptable punishment by the majority who are quite happy to see people reduced to begging at food banks.
It is no wonder the number of people who choose to end their lives is rising. it is a national tragedy that the government refuse to even acknowledge.
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Thank you for this succinct summary. Also add that clothing has to be remade from old clothes, at home, or ask for underwear as a present. I’m living this nightmare and have reached the hopeless stage…..my biggest fear is for my grandchild, what a future!
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