Suicide city

The city had an annual average of 13.8 suicides per 100,000 people in the last decade.

This was higher than the average national rate of ten per 100,000 people each year. The only other area to equal Brighton and Hove was Blackpool.

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority said there were 28 suicides in the city in 1999 and 23 between January and October 2000.

Of the cases in 2000, none of those who died were under 20 and 13 were unemployed. Thirteen people died due to overdoses and nine people were found hanged.

Health experts said there was a close link between suicides and drug and alcohol abuse, a particular problem in the city.

About a quarter of the people had been seen by mental health service staff in the year leading up to their deaths.

Other parts of East Sussex also have high suicide rates.

Hastings has regularly been earmarked as having the highest suicide rate in young men in England and Wales.

Part of the reason is the area is one of the most deprived in England and Wales and has high unemployment.

Overall figures from the health authority show that Hastings had an average of 12.1 suicides per 100,000 people. Eastbourne had 11.7, Lewes had 5.5 and Wealden had seven.

West Sussex's figures were in line with the national average of ten per 100,000.

South Downs Health NHS Trust is now working to implement 12 recommendations put forward in Safety First, a Government report which looked at the suicide and homicide rates of people with mental health problems in England and Wales.

All trusts responsible for dealing with mental health must make the recommendations form their general policy on dealing with suicide risks by the end of the year.

These include increasing staff training and developing individual care plans to specify action to be taken if a patient fails to attend an appointment.

Mental health workers will also be encouraged to learn more about the management of drug abuse and its link with potential suicide.

The trust is in the middle of establishing a care programme which aims to reach higher-risk people such as those who have come off drugs in prison and just been released.

Derek Blincow, clinical director of mental health services at the trust, said it had already adopted many of the recommendations.

He said: "There are a number of schemes already going and there are some areas which could do with a bit more work. We have a well- developed drug abuse service and work closely with voluntary organisations over detox and maintenance programmes.

"Substance misuse is not the only factor when it comes to reasons for committing suicide but it is an important one.

"As Brighton and Hove has a large number of people with drug and alcohol addiction it means there is a greater risk of suicide.

"We have constantly worked closely with other agencies to work out ways of reaching people who are at risk and will continue to do so."