SUICIDE RATES FOR YOUNG MEN

Early day motion 363, tabled 24 February 1999 by Howard Stoate (Labour). Signed by 64 members.

That this House congratulates the Doctor Patient Partnership for launching its Suicide: Helping Men Cope Campaign which helps raise awareness of the high rate of suicide among young men and encourages them to seek help; notes that 75 per cent. of suicides are by males, that the suicide rate for 15 to 24 year old males in England and Wales increased by more than 80 per cent. between 1980 and 1992, that suicide rates in Scotland between 1994 and 1996 were 50 per cent. higher than the rest of the United Kingdom and that suicide is the second most common cause of death in young men; realises that the reluctance of men to seek support when distressed adds to their vulnerability and that unemployment is strongly associated with suicide; and welcomes the proposals put forward in the Green Papers Our Healthier Nation and Modernising Mental Health Services on reducing the level of mental illness and suicide, and looks forward to the necessary legislation being passed by this House at the earliest opportunity.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.