NEW statistics have shown the number of suicides in Colchester dropped last year, but increased significantly in Tendring.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found the number of suicides in Colchester, which numbered 18 in 2020, dropped to 14 last year.

In Tendring, however, the figures were starker – the number of suicides increased from three in 2020 to 12 throughout 2021.

Nationally, the number of suicides last year rose from 5,224 in 2020 to a 5,583 last year – and further breakdown of the data showed nearly three quarters of those suicides (4,129) were committed by men.

Although the figures come as an abrupt reminder of how prevalent mental health issues have become in recent years, both the NHS and charities throughout Essex are providing as much support as possible to help those who may be at risk of suicide.

With World Suicide Prevention Day taking place on Saturday, Mid and North East Essex Mind – whose regional office is based in Mersea Road, Colchester – is looking to step up its efforts to continue the trend of decreasing suicide numbers in Colchester.

Karen Mitchell, who joined the Mid and North East Essex branch of Mind earlier this year, said the demand for mental health services will increase over the coming months due to the knock-on effect of the cost-of-living crisis, which is likely to see more people struggle to provide for their households.

She said: “There will be more pressure on people needing to use our services because there are strong links between finances and mental health – people’s mental health will be massively affected by the cost of living crisis.”

But Mrs Mitchell added significant progress has been made in recent years regarding the promotion of mental health campaigns.

“It’s become a lot more acceptable now for people to talk about their mental health – part of that has been driven by high profile celebrities and footballers talking about their own mental health issues.

“Hopefully that will stop people from taking such drastic action, because the dialogue has improved massively in the last couple of years.”