Men, Suicide and the Statistics We Cannot Ignore
For men in England, suicide is not a marginal issue. It remains one of the biggest causes of death in men under the age of 50.
And for younger men, the figures are particularly stark.
According to the UK Government’s Men’s Health Strategy, using Office for National Statistics data, in 2024:
• For males aged 20 to 34, intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent were the leading cause of death.
• For males aged 35 to 49, accidental poisoning, such as drug overdose, and intentional self harm were the leading causes of death.
• It is only from the 50 to 64 age group that ischaemic heart disease becomes the leading cause of death.
The Government summarises the wider picture simply: suicide remains one of the biggest causes of death among men under 50.
Around three in every four people who died by suicide in 2024 were men.
The male suicide rate
Office for National Statistics figures show that 6,190 suicides were registered in England and Wales during 2024.
The suicide rate among men was 17.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 5.7 per 100,000 among women.
That means the male rate was more than three times the female rate.
Perhaps surprisingly, the highest suicide rate among male age groups was not among the youngest men.
Men aged 50 to 54 recorded the highest rate, at 27.5 deaths per 100,000.
These are not simply numbers.
They represent fathers, sons, brothers, partners, colleagues and friends.
What about 2025?
More recent provisional Office for National Statistics data shows that 5,728 suicides were registered in England during 2025, representing a rate of 11.1 per 100,000 people.
Importantly, suicide statistics are reported primarily by the year in which the death was registered, rather than necessarily the year in which the person died, because a coroner's investigation can mean a considerable delay before a death is formally registered.
That distinction matters when discussing these figures accurately.
Awareness is not enough
At VÕS HELP, we believe talking about men's mental health matters.
But talking alone is not enough.
One of the barriers facing somebody who is struggling can be taking that first step and actually speaking to another human being.
VÕS HELP was created to make that step simpler.
Through the VÕS HELP app, people can connect with a real counsellor, with the option to remain anonymous.
No AI. No robots. A real person to talk to.
And as part of this campaign, we are making free counselling calls available to people who need support.
If you are struggling, you do not need to wait until things reach crisis point before speaking to somebody.
Reaching out early matters.
Sources
Office for National Statistics, Suicides in England and Wales, 2024 registrations:
UK Government, Men’s Health: A Strategic Vision for England:
Office for National Statistics, provisional 2025 suicide registrations:
Need to talk?
If you or somebody you know is struggling, VÕS HELP provides access to real counsellors through the VÕS HELP app.
Visit VÕS HELP to find out more and access support.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services or an appropriate crisis service in your country.
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