A Carmarthenshire county councillor who said he was aware of four suspected deaths by suicide is urging people who are in distress or suffering with depression to seek help.

Cllr Bryan Davies said he would like more prominent messaging and advice about mental health.

“We cannot be holding back,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Cllr Davies said he has attended the funerals of two people in Carmarthenshire that he said were suspected of death by suicide. He said he’d been made aware more recently of two further suspected deaths by suicide.

The charity Samaritans said suicide was complex, rarely caused by one thing, and that it could be prevented.

Cllr Davies said in the past there used to be a “pull yourself together” attitude towards mental health which dissuaded people from seeking help.

“I am concerned that even these days that people are not prepared to share their worries,” he said. “My concern is that people feel they’re letting friends and members of their family down.”

Cllr Bryan Davies, who is urging people in distress to seek help (pic Carmarthenshire Council and free for use)
Cllr Bryan Davies, who is urging people in distress to seek help. (Pic: Carmarthenshire Council)

The Plaid Cymru councillor had raised the issue at a council committee meeting on June 9 and asked what the suicide rate statistics showed and what the authority could offer vulnerable people suffering with depression.

“Are they aware that there is support available, and how do they ask for that support, or is it all in the hands of their GP?” he asked at the health and social services scrutiny meeting.

The council has employed a suicide prevention officer until March 2027 having secured grant funding for the role. A draft annual social services report before the committee said the officer would identify barriers to those seeking help and help colleagues on a suicide prevention group draw up and publish a prevention strategy and action plan.

The council has also established a rapid response capability in 2023 to offer immediate support to people affected by suspected death by suicide.

There were 30 deaths by suicide registered in Carmarthenshire in 2023 compared to 14 in 2022, although not all the deaths would have taken place in the two calendar years. The figures for 2024 are due to be published later this summer.

Statistics by Samaritans show there were 6,069 suicides in England and Wales in 2023 – the highest rate since 1999 and a 7.5% rise on the figure of 5,642 in 2022. Three-quarters of deaths were male.

Public Health Wales said rates of suspected death by suicide within Wales’ health board areas were not statistically significantly different to the all-Wales rate, according to the latest data, but that rates within Hywel Dda University Health Board in south-west Wales were statistically significantly higher than in Swansea Bay and Cardiff and Vale to the east. Rates in Betsi Cadwaladr, north Wales, were also statistically significantly higher than Swansea Bay’s.

Kate Burton, Carmarthenshire’s head of adult social care, said a large amount of work about suicide and prevention went on at a national level, and that people in distress could get support 24/7 by phoning 111 and pressing option two.

Jan Coles, head of children and families, said she was really sorry to hear about the suspected deaths by suicide referred to by Cllr Davies. She said work needed to be done with community organisations such as rugby clubs and barber shops to raise awareness of the issue and direct those in need to support services.

The draft social services report said one in four adults would experience mental health problems or illness at some point in their lives, equating to approximately 45,000 people in Carmarthenshire. Demand for mental health support has been steadily increasing, it said, with people aged 16-24 experiencing the largest deterioration in mental health.

In April, the Welsh Government launched an ambitious new drive to create a more compassionate approach to understanding the causes of and responding to suicide and self-harm, to help to save lives.

The Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy launched Wales’ new 10-year strategy, which focuses on tackling the issues which lead people to suicidal thoughts and improving support for people experiencing self-harm.

It draws directly on people’s lived experience and target stigma around suicide and self-harm to create a culture where people are able to seek support without fear or judgement.

The Welsh Government is also investing more than £2m in the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-harm at Swansea University through Health and Care Research Wales.

The new Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Strategy sets out six main aims:

  • Listening and learning – developing a robust evidence base and hearing from people with lived experience
  • Preventing – addressing risk factors
  • Empowering – removing stigma, helping everyone to talk and listen to each other about suicide and self-harm and to help find support when needed
  • Supporting – improving services for people with self-harm and suicidal thoughts
  • Equipping – making sure services which support people at higher risk across Wales identify people in need and work together to provide support
  • Responding – providing timely, compassionate and person-centred support to those affected following suspected suicides

The strategy recognises that suicide and self-harm can affect anyone at any age. However, the groups with the highest prevalence rates are different for suicide than they are for self-harm.

Suicide is most prevalent among middle-aged men (aged 30 to 55), while self-harm is more common among young women (aged 15 to 19). This distinction helps inform tailored approaches within the strategy.

The Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy has spoken about Wales’ determination to remove the stigma of talking about and seeking help for suicide and self-harm.
The Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy has spoken about Wales’ determination to remove the stigma of talking about and seeking help for suicide and self-harm. (Pic supplied)

The strategy also emphasises that self-harm is a significant risk factor for suicide. It urges everyone to take all incidents of self-harm seriously and treat the person in distress with kindness and compassion.

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: "This ambitious strategy focuses on building understanding, prevention, and compassionate support for everyone affected by suicide and self-harm.

"By working across government departments and with our partners, we're tackling the root causes while ensuring immediate help is available to those who need it.

“It’s through supporting and working with third sector organisations like the Samaritans that we will achieve the ambitions set out in our Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Strategy.”

Joshua, who has received support from the Samaritans after having suicidal thoughts, said: “I see a generational issue where older men don't speak about their mental health because they grew up in a time when it wasn't discussed.

“Nowadays, people are much more aware and open about mental health, which is very positive. However, there is still a demographic of boys and men my age who feel it's too wimpy or embarrassing to speak about it. I've noticed that even though the conversation is improving, this issue persists.”

Further information:

Mind Cymru infoline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. To contact them call 0300 123 3393.

Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (in the UK and Republic of Ireland this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).

C.A.L.L (Community Advice & Listening Line) offers emotional support and information/literature on mental health and related matters to the people of Wales and can be contacted on 0800 132 737 or through the website.

The NHS offers help and advice through its 111 service, option 2.