Research analysis from the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB) shows that male suicide rates in Wales have become the highest in the UK, and are worse than at any time since records began to be kept in 1981.

337 Welsh men died by suicide in 2024, the highest number on record.  That means the number of men who have taken their own lives in Wales this century now stands at 6,723, and that suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in Wales.

While the male suicide rate in Wales now stands at 25 per 100,000, the number for females is far lower at just 6.8 per 100,000, although that is also the highest since 2017.

“Every life lost through suicide is a tragedy,” says Mark Brooks, Policy Director of the CPRMB who compiled the statistics, “and the latest official figures on male suicide rates in Wales are a huge concern. They continue to rise, are the worst ever in Wales and now are the highest in the UK. There needs to be a specific strategy and plan solely focused on male suicide, and more broadly, men’s health.

“To deal with any problem it’s really important to properly understand it, and if we fail to look at the problem of suicide without looking at gender, we will never make significant inroads into prevention.  We need to know why so many men in Wales are taking their own lives, a  tragedy for those men and their families, friends, workmates, and all who love them.”

Mark suggests the need for a national strategic response to the problem of male suicide, and highlights two specific policy proposals in particular which may help to reduce the numbers of these needless deaths. 

Firstly, the UK Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, announced a Men’s Health Strategy for England on International Men’s Day (19 November 2025), the first of its kind in the UK.  There is already a Women’s Health Plan in Wales and it would be beneficial to have a male plan too.  Secondly, the Welsh Government’s suicide prevention and self-harm strategy, while entirely welcome, does not specify a gender-sensitive approach to the problem where one is clearly needed.

The analysis also identifies overall suicide rates on a local authority level, with Blaenau Gwent, Sir Fynwy, Merthyr Tydfil and Gwynedd having the most troubling numbers.

See here for full analysis

For further information, including interviews, please contact Simon Garrett – simon@virtubrands.com – 07974 566043

If you need support, please contact Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org and other organisations listed on the NHS Wales https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/s/article/suicidalthoughts