A CHARITY which offers help to people struggling with their mental health have urged lifesaving action to be taken - after ‘shocking’ new figures revealed 24 people took their own lives in the town over a 12-month period.
The Samaritans said the situation should be treated as a ‘public health crisis’ and called on the government to take action to drive down figures in next month’s budget.
The figures - which were published ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day next week - show Barnsley had seven fewer deaths attributed to suicide last year than in 2022.
Suicide rates locally are calculated over a three-year rolling average and in Barnsley, 14.2 suicides per 100,000 people were registered between 2021 and 2023.
In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, 28 suicides were registered in the area.
However, Samaritans’ bosses have called for an immediate investment in help services to save lives after national figures grew to the highest level in more than two decades.
Jacqui Morrissey, from Samaritans, said the figures were ‘even worse than expected’.
She added: “The autumn budget is a chance for this government to break its silence and commit to proper investment for suicide prevention with the same ambition that we have seen drive down smoking rates.
“These figures are the final wake-up call - suicide is preventable but not without real action.
“Nationally, the number of suicides registered increased by eight per cent from 5,642 to 6,069, the equivalent of 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people, which was the highest rate seen since 1999.
“The north-west had the highest suicide rate at 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people, more than double London’s rate of 7.3 per 100,000.
“Local areas must not be left scrabbling around for the funding they need to save lives.”
There was also inequality between men and women, with males making up around three-quarters of suicides nationally.
Locally, more than £100,000 is set to be invested to make a town centre bridge - which has been labelled a ‘high-risk suicide location’ following 36 separate incidents over a two-year period - safer for struggling residents.
Additional safety measures at the Pitt Street bridge, which runs above Westway near Morrisons, were rubber-stamped by council bosses earlier this year.
The bridge, alongside the public walkway on Newton Street and Castlereagh Street’s footbridge - all in the town centre - have been identified by Barnsley Council due to the sheer number of incidents taking place.
It’s hoped the work will also contribute to Barnsley Council’s ambitious ‘zero suicide’ ambition.
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Every suicide is a tragedy and these figures show a clearly worrying trend, which this government is committed to reversing.
“We know that people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need.
“That’s why we will fix our broken health system to ensure that we give mental health the attention and focus it deserves.
“Alongside acting to improve mental health support, we will work across government to tackle the underlying causes of unequal health outcomes including suicide, across the country.”
Contact Samaritans for free, at any time, on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
