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Suicides: Essex

Volume 473: debated on Wednesday 12 March 2008

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of people who committed suicide in Essex were (a) male and (b) female in each of the last five years; (193506)

(2) how many people committed suicide in Essex in each of the last five years, broken down by age.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 March 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking:

(1) What proportion of suicides in Essex were (a) male and (b) female in each of the last five years. (193506)

(2) How many suicides there were in Essex in each of the last five years; and what proportion was of each decile age group. (193507)

The tables attached provide the number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death, by (1) sex, and (2) 10 year age group, in Essex county, for 2002 to 2006 (the latest year available). The proportion of suicides by (1) sex and (2) 10 year age group is also shown.

Table 1: Number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death, and proportion of suicides, Essex county1, 2, by sex, 2002-063

Males

Females

Persons4

Deaths

Percentage

Deaths

Percentage

Deaths

Percentage

2002

72

79

19

21

91

100

2003

78

79

21

21

99

100

2004

68

71

28

29

96

100

2005

82

73

30

27

112

100

2006

84

70

36

30

120

100

1 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the Coroner's verdict was pending).

2 Suicide and undetermined intent deaths have not been included for children under the age of 15 years.

3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

4 Percentages do not always add to 100 due to rounding.

Table 2: Number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death, and proportion of suicides, Essex county1, by age group2, 2001-063

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Age

Deaths

Percentage

Deaths

Percentage

Deaths

Percentage

Deaths

Percentage

Deaths

Percentage

15-24

10

11

7

7

16

17

14

13

10

8

25-34

11

12

20

20

18

19

22

20

21

18

35-44

22

24

22

22

20

21

30

27

22

18

45-54

17

19

21

21

17

18

18

16

24

20

55-64

15

16

15

15

13

14

7

6

16

13

65-74

8

9

3

3

5

5

6

5

12

10

75-84

5

5

6

6

5

5

10

9

6

5

85+

3

3

5

5

2

2

5

4

9

8

Total4

91

100

99

100

96

100

112

100

120

100

1 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the Coroner's verdict was pending).

2 Suicide and undetermined intent deaths have not been included for children under the age of 15 years.

3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar-year.

4 Percentages do not always add to 100 due to rounding.