More than two people's lives are being lost to suicide each week in Merseyside.
New figures have revealed that 110 people tragically took their own lives throughout the region in 2019 but this is the lowest number in 10 years.
In 2018, 114 suicide deaths were registered here and although the number is dropping, it is not yet clear what impact the coronavirus outbreak will have had.
Samaritans have said it was not inevitable suicide rates would rise as a result of the pandemic and people continue to be impacted and it was essential they get the support they need.
Liverpool saw a slight rise in the number of people taking their own lives, with 39 deaths registered in 2019, up from 37 the year before.
Between 2017 and 2019, 126 people died by suicide in Liverpool, a rate of 9.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
St Helens had the highest suicide rate locally, with 13.9 deaths per 100,000 people, or 65 deaths between 2017 and 2019.
Early regional figures for 2020 show a rise in registrations in January to March this year, but a drop for April to June.
However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said this likely reflects delays to inquests because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the coroner's service.
It takes around five months for a inquest to conclude, so the ONS says we currently don’t know the total number of suicides that occurred during the pandemic.
In the North West, there were 204 deaths by suicide registered in January to March this year, compared to 134 in the same quarter in 2019, while 96 deaths were registered between April and June, down from 177 a year before.
Samaritans CEO Ruth Sutherland said because of the delays in registering suicides, we don’t yet have a clear picture of what has happened this year, and this showed the need for a comprehensive national real time surveillance system to monitor and respond to any increases in rates.
She said “It is not inevitable that suicide rates will go up as a result of coronavirus, but we know that the pandemic is impacting on lots of people’s lives and exacerbating some known risk factors for suicide for some people who are already vulnerable.
“From our own research which looked to understand how coronavirus is affecting people who access our services, we know that callers are generally more anxious and distressed than before the pandemic.
"Volunteers are telling us that many callers have been worried about losing their job and/or business and their finances, with common themes around not being able to pay rent/mortgage, inability to support the family, and fear of homelessness.
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“Undoubtedly, the pandemic has affected everyone in society, but Samaritans is particularly worried about three groups: people with pre-existing mental health conditions, young people who self-harm, and less well-off middle-aged men.
“It is essential that these groups are given the support they need before people reach crisis point. Suicide prevention must be a priority right now, so we can save lives.”
If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org or visit the Samaritans website to find details of the nearest branch.
Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope.
