90 people took their own lives in West Sussex last year, new figures reveal
The suicide rate in the county is at a 20-year high
It has been revealed that the number of people taking their own lives in West Sussex has hit a two-decade high.
New official figures show 90 people died by suicide in the county last year.
22 deaths were recorded in Arun, 14 in Horsham, 13 in both Mid Sussex and Worthing, 11 in Chichester, 10 in Crawley and seven in Adur.
Nationally, 5,691 people in England and Wales took their own lives in 2019.
The suicide rate for men is at its highest rate in 20 years, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The suicide rate for women was also the highest since 2004.
Men accounted for around three-quarters of suicide deaths registered in 2019 - 4,303 compared with 1,388 women.
The male suicide rate of 16.9 deaths per 100,000 people was the highest since 2000, but is in line with 2018's figures.
For women, the rate was 5.3 deaths per 100,000 - the highest since 2004, but again consistent with the previous year.
In total, there were 5,691 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2019, with an age-standardised rate of 11 deaths per 100,000 population.
Across all age groups, men aged 45 to 49 had the highest suicide rate at 25.5 deaths per 100,000, while the highest rate among women was 50 to 54-year-olds at 7.4 deaths per 100,000.
The rate for 10 to 24-year-old females had also increased "significantly" since 2012 to its highest level, with 3.1 deaths per 100,000 females in 2019, the ONS said.
If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123, 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, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.
You can find local health services near you here.