Chapter 3 - Health
                                           

Service-specific age-standardised rates were calculated using the 2006 regular Armed Forces male population only to make comparisons across the Services. Owing to the age composition of the UK Armed Forces, these analyses cover personnel aged 16-59 only. These rates estimate the rate of suicides among males for each Service, as if each Service had the same age distribution as the 2006 male regular Armed Forces population.

Due to the small numbers involved when further breaking down annual numbers of suicides, the data for graphs have been aggregated to give 3 year moving averages. This eliminates some of the random variation that can occur from year to year and provides a clearer picture of possible trends.

The analyses made here are based on relatively small numbers. This presents a particular challenge for complex and detailed statistical analysis. As this section presents several sub-group analyses in which some categories may only involve a handful of cases, there is a risk of misinterpreting a chance association for a real finding. We strongly recommend caution in reading too much into past trends and assuming that they still apply today or will continue to do so in the future. In particular, they cannot take into account a large number of policy initiatives that have been introduced in the past few years.

The data presented includes both coroner-confirmed suicides and open verdict deaths. In accordance with ONS practice, the term 'suicide' should be understood to include all suicide and open verdict deaths. There are 21 deaths in the "awaiting verdict" category involving a wide range of external accidental or violent causes. These have been referred to a coroner (or, for Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal) and some may be returned as suicides or open verdicts. Due to the low numbers of cases among female Service personnel (18 deaths), most of the analyses have been restricted to males only (aged 16-59 years).

Table 3.3 Number of suicide and open verdict and awaiting verdict deaths by Service and gender,                      1984-2007
The Naval Service suicide rate peaked in 1985-1987 and in 1990-1992 at 14 per 100,000. It fell to 6 per 100,000 in 2003-2005. The Army age-standardised suicide rate for males rose from 12 per 100,000 in 1984-1986 to 20 per 100,000 in 1995-1997; it fell to a low of 7 per 100,000 in 2005-2007. The RAF age-standardised suicide rate for males also rose from 11 per 100,000 in 1984-1986 to 15 per 100,000 in 1992-1994. It fell to a low of 4 per 100,000 in 2005-2007.
 
Verdict
   Total   Male   Female  
All Services
Suicide
   544   531   13
 
Open
   168   163   5
 
Awaiting
   21   21   -
 
 
            
Naval Service
Suicide
   83   81   2
 
Open
   37   36   1
 
Awaiting
   1   1   -
 
 
            
Army
Suicide
   335   329   6
 
Open
   96   92   4
 
Awaiting
   20   20   -
 
 
            
Royal Air Force
Suicide
   126   121   5
 
Open
   35   35   -
 
Awaiting
   -   -   -
Source: DASA (Health Information)
Chart to Table 3.3 Age-standardised rates of suicides, by Service, males, 1984-20071,2,3





1.    Data points shown for 2002-2004, 2003-2005, 2004-2006 and 2005-2007, may change when information on waiting verdicts is received.
2.    Each year shown is the mid point of a 3 year period, eg. 1985 refers to 1984-1986.
3.    Standardised to the 2006 regular Armed Forces strengths.