Cumbria Suicide Rates Remain Among Highest In England
Suicide rates across Cumbria remain significantly higher than the national average, with local organisations warning that more action is needed to prevent avoidable deaths.
More than five people die by suicide in Cumbria each month, according to figures highlighted during World Suicide Prevention Day. The number is more than twice the number of people killed on the county’s roads, while rates have remained above the national average for more than a decade.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 137 people died by suicide in Cumberland between 2022 and 2024. This produced a rate of 19.4 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with an England average of 10.9 per 100,000.
The figures also highlight a significant difference between men and women. Cumberland recorded a male suicide rate of 28.2 deaths per 100,000 people during the same period, placing it seventh highest among England’s 153 upper tier local authorities.
Westmorland and Furness has also recorded a suicide rate well above the national average. Between 2022 and 2024, the area recorded 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 10.9 per 100,000 across England.
Local suicide prevention organisation Every Life Matters has been working to address the issue through prevention training, community awareness and bereavement support. The organisation has trained more than 33,000 people across Cumbria in suicide prevention skills since it was established.
Chris Wood, co-founder and chief executive of Every Life Matters, said the county’s figures reflected a complex combination of social, economic and personal circumstances rather than one single cause.
He highlighted issues including financial pressures, relationship breakdowns, physical and mental health problems, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. He also pointed to pressure on mental health services, particularly in rural communities where recruitment, funding and access to services can present additional challenges.
Wood said deprivation was an important factor but stressed that the relationship between suicide and deprivation was not straightforward. Differences in income, education, health, access to services and living environments can overlap and contribute to increased vulnerability in some communities.
The organisation is calling for suicide prevention to be treated as a wider public health priority, with greater investment in services and education. Wood said prevention requires contributions from health services, public bodies, community organisations, workplaces and individuals.
He also emphasised the importance of encouraging people to seek help when they are struggling. Men are particularly affected, accounting for around three quarters of suicides, and efforts to reduce stigma around discussing suicidal thoughts are considered an important part of prevention work.
Community members can also play a role by recognising changes in the behaviour of friends, relatives and colleagues. Withdrawal, increased risk taking, self harm, expressions of hopelessness, discussions about suicide or unusual attempts to say goodbye can all be warning signs that someone may be experiencing severe distress.
Wood said people should not be afraid to ask someone directly if they are having thoughts of suicide. He argued that raising the subject is unlikely to make the situation worse and can instead provide an opportunity for someone to explain what they are experiencing and receive appropriate support.
Suicide prevention also involves supporting people who have been bereaved. Losing someone to suicide can have a serious and lasting effect on relatives, friends and wider communities, while bereaved people can themselves face increased vulnerability following the death of someone close.
Every Life Matters works with bereaved families and children and also receives referrals through Cumbria Police. The organisation provides support following suicide deaths while continuing to expand its prevention and awareness work across the county.
The charity has called for greater investment in suicide prevention, saying the scale of deaths is not currently matched by public sector spending. It argues that long term progress will require sustained investment in education, public services and community based support.
There are also efforts to increase the number of people with the skills and confidence to intervene when someone may be struggling. Every Life Matters has said it wants to expand its training considerably, with the aim of reaching far more people across Cumbria in the coming years.
The organisation offers suicide prevention training to workplaces, football clubs, community groups and other organisations. Sessions can be adapted to different settings, with the aim of helping participants understand warning signs, start difficult conversations and know where to direct people for further help.
Candle lighting events were also held across Cumbria as part of World Suicide Prevention Day, with events taking place in Barrow, Kendal, Carlisle, Maryport, Penrith and Whitehaven.
The continuing high rates underline the scale of the challenge facing Cumbria, but prevention organisations say communities have an important role to play. Increasing awareness, improving access to services and making conversations about suicide easier could all contribute to reducing the number of preventable deaths.
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