Suicides by country of birth groupings in England and Wales: age-associated trends and standardised mortality ratios

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide rates in England and Wales have declined in recent years. A better understanding of age-associated trends in different ethnic groups may inform strategies to sustain this decline.

Materials and methods: This study examines suicide rates and age-associated trends in England and Wales by country of birth (used as a proxy for ethnicity) using the latest available national mortality data.

Results: The main findings were (a) suicide rates were generally higher in males than females in all age bands in all country of birth groups except the China group, where suicides rates were higher in females than males in the older age bands; (b) male suicide rates increased with ageing in the Indian sub-continent group and female suicide rates increased with ageing in the Africa and China groups; (c) male standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were generally higher in the younger age bands in the Eastern Europe and Caribbean groups and generally lower in the Australasian, Middle East and Western Europe groups; (d) male SMRs were generally higher in the older age bands in Eastern Europe, Caribbean, Australasian and Western Europe groups and lower in all age bands in the Indian sub-continent group, and (e) female SMRs were generally higher in the older age bands in the China, Africa and Caribbean groups.

Conclusion: There is a need for epidemiological data on suicides in BME groups, including age-associated trends, trends over time, risk and protective factors and methods of suicide to inform suicide prevention strategies.