Samaritans Cymru: Poverty and suicide links ‘need addressing’

Samaritans Cymru has launched a report which highlights the link between poverty and suicide.

It showed there is a “strong association” between suicide rates in deprived areas, with claims as poverty increases, so does suicidal behaviour.

Suicide rates are two to three times higher in the most deprived neighbourhoods compared to the most affluent ones, the new report found.

Sarah Stone, Samaritans’ Executive Director for Wales, said the link between poverty and suicide needs to be tackled.

“If you live in an area of disadvantage, the suicide risk is about three times higher than in areas that are much more affluent. That’s a big issue, it’s something we need to look at,” she said.

Each year, between 300 and 350 people die by suicide in Wales, which is around three times the number killed in road accidents. It is also the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49.

Almost a quarter of the Welsh population (23%) live in poverty. The report sets out a number of recommendations to tackle the link between poverty and suicide, including a call to Welsh Government to set out a strategy to tackle poverty in the country.

Samaritans Cymru is also calling for better public information on personal finances and debt, better support for those bereaved by suicide, and investment into community groups to tackle loneliness.

John Griffiths, Labour AM for Newport East, said there needs to be a better understanding of the issue if progress is to be made. “There’s a need to have an overarching strategy to tackle poverty in Wales, as obviously poverty is the real problem in so many ways. It’s only by effectively tackling poverty that you can radically reduce that suicide rate. That’s the number one recommendation, and I think that’s the most important.

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