The suicide rate in Ceredigion has dropped over the last three years, but has risen slightly in Powys, new figures show.

Mental health charity Samaritans said that the reduction in registered suicides is encouraging, but said that “one death by suicide is still one too many”.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there were 21 suicides in Ceredigion between 2015 and 2017, at a rate of 10.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

Local rates are measured over a three-year period. Between 2012 and 2014, there were 12.3 suicides registered per 100,000 people.

The rate over the last three years was lower than that across Wales as a whole, where 12.7 suicides were registered per 100,000 people.

Last year, there were six suicides in Ceredigion, the lowest number recorded since 2014.

The figures also show that there were 60 suicides in Powys between 2015 and 2017, at a rate of 16.9 deaths per 100,000 people – the fourth-highest rate in England and Wales.

Between 2012 and 2014, there were 12.9 suicides registered per 100,000 people.

Last year, there were 19 suicides in Powys, the lowest number recorded since 2014.

Of 5,821 suicides registered last year 4,382 were men, a rate of 15.5 deaths per 100,000 men. However, the male suicide rate was at its lowest level on record in 2017.

Overall, there were 10.1 suicides per 100,000 people in the UK last year.

Ruth Sutherland, the charity’s chief executive, said: “It’s encouraging to see the reduction in male suicide.

“We believe that the focus of suicide prevention in recent years to tackle the higher rates in men has contributed to this.

“But one death by suicide is still one too many.”

The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or via email at [email protected].

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