Get the facts on mental health

23 May 2023

The suicide rate may not have been rising in recent years

Sir Keir Starmer claimed the suicide rate is “going up”, based on a rise since 2007. But data for the last few years gives a mixed picture.

The suicide rate may not have been rising in recent years

14 October 2022

Sunday Express misinterprets suicide data

We do not yet know whether suicides in young people rose in 2021. Suicide registrations did rise, but this may have been caused by delays earlier in the pandemic.

Sunday Express misinterprets suicide data

20 June 2022

Child self-harm numbers in the Guardian, Mirror and Independent don’t reflect survey’s actual findings

About 3% of parents taking part in a survey said their children had begun to self-harm in response to the cost of living crisis.

Child self-harm numbers in the Guardian, Mirror and Independent don’t reflect survey’s actual findings

12 May 2022

Reports that ‘most teachers’ are suffering from depression are based on a self-selecting survey

The data comes from members of the NASUWT teaching union who chose to complete its survey, so it can’t reliably tell us about the wellbeing of teachers as a whole.

Reports that ‘most teachers’ are suffering from depression are based on a self-selecting survey

10 September 2021

New figures on healthcare workers' suicides should be treated with caution

Most of the suicides registered in the first half of 2020 occurred in previous years.

New figures on healthcare workers' suicides should be treated with caution

17 August 2021

Samaritans doesn't have a text number anymore

A post on Facebook shares out-of-date information about contacting the charity.

Samaritans doesn't have a text number anymore

10 May 2021

Sun wrong to claim lockdown doubled suicide rates

Evidence suggests suicides did not increase after the first lockdown.

Sun wrong to claim lockdown doubled suicide rates

5 March 2021

It’s not clear if antidepressants cause hair loss

Research reported in the Express does not establish any link between the medication and losing your hair.

It’s not clear if antidepressants cause hair loss

15 February 2021

A Bangladesh study doesn’t show that depression follows Covid-19

The Telegraph misreported a scientific study which found that many former Covid-19 sufferers had depression, but did not say whether the virus was to blame.

A Bangladesh study doesn’t show that depression follows Covid-19

2 September 2020

There’s no evidence the number of people taking their own life fell during the Covid-19 pandemic

Health secretary Matt Hancock was wrong to say figures for England show a decrease in the number of people taking their own life.

There’s no evidence the number of people taking their own life fell during the Covid-19 pandemic

Mental health

The suicide rate may not have been rising in recent years

Sunday Express misinterprets suicide data

Child self-harm numbers in the Guardian, Mirror and Independent don’t reflect survey’s actual findings

Reports that ‘most teachers’ are suffering from depression are based on a self-selecting survey

New figures on healthcare workers' suicides should be treated with caution

Samaritans doesn't have a text number anymore

Sun wrong to claim lockdown doubled suicide rates

It’s not clear if antidepressants cause hair loss

A Bangladesh study doesn’t show that depression follows Covid-19

There’s no evidence the number of people taking their own life fell during the Covid-19 pandemic

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