Suicide among young men has fallen to its lowest level for almost two decades, according to a Department of Health report published today, writes Clare Jerrom.

The rate has dropped by almost 30 per cent since 1998 and the fall is the first sustained downward trend since the problem of suicide among young men first escalated 25 years ago.

“This is positive news, as they are a group which has in recent years had a disproportionately high number of people choosing to take their own lives,” said Louis Appleby, national director of mental health.

But he warned that there were still almost 4,500 registered suicides in 2003 and he stressed that professionals must continue to work hard to ensure this downward trend continues.

The report outlines progress made by the Department of Health and the National Institute for Mental Health in England including:-

• Young men are being targeted to seek help earlier and access services

• Suicide prevention training pilots are being run for staff in mental health units and prisons

• A study of self-harm has been set up to provide accurate data in patterns of self-harm

• A five-year programme has been launched to tackle stigma on mental health grounds

Report from www.nimhe.org.uk