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As it is envisaged to gradually transfer most if not all, the functions of the present large, often distant, psychiatric
hospitals to smaller psychiatric units attached to District General Hospitals which in the case of Haringey are
situated at St. Ann's, prince of Wales's, and North Middlesex Hospitals, this will inevitably bring more and more
psychiatric work into the midst of our area and must, therefore, throw an increasing burden on the already
existing community psychiatric services and establishments. To meet this challenge, the closest of collaboration
in the planning and implementation of services and facilities between the hospital and community sectors is of
supreme urgency and importance if we want any future scheme to succeed.
During 1973, the Council had started an experimental Youth Counselling Service with one evening session a
month at the Tottenham Technical College. A social worker is in attendance and psychiatric advice by the
Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health is available when required. Referrals come from various professional
agencies and individuals and there is little doubt that the demand for such a service will increase as its existence
becomes more widely known.
Dr. Seidel has completed a study on a community problem of considerable interest namely that of Suicides in
the Borough during 1971 and certain extracts from his survey are the subject of a separate article in this annual
report.
Suicides in Haringey During 1971
Dr. U.P. Seidel, Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health and Community Psychiatrist
There has been increasing concern over the large and rising number of suicides presented to our local hospitals
and clinics. It became essential therefore, to place the whole issue on a factual basis by studying the actual
number of people so desperate as to make attempts at taking their own lives.
I must begin by stating that Haringey has the unenviable distinction of being amongst one of the areas with the
highest figures for both attempted and consummated suicides. More than one attempt a day has been recorded
throughout the year and is still rising, presenting indeed an alarming picture.
The total number of Haringey residents for the year 1971 who attempted to kill themselves were 379, 275
females and 104 males, giving a sex ratio of almost 2.7 to 1 in favour of the female sex. The ages most prone to
make attempts on their lives, and there was no difference between the sexes proportionately except over 70,
were in order of frequency:—
20—29, 14—19, 30—39, most commonly; then,
40—49, 50—59 and 60—69
After the age of 70, females greatly outnumbered males by 11 to 1.
People who actually succeeded in killing themselves amounted to—41 during the same year, 21 males and 20
females which gives a ratio in relation to the total population of 17 per 100,000 compared with the average
national ratio of 8 per 100,000.
The ages for consummated suicides were, however, in sharp contrast to the sexes. Amongst males the largest
number of deaths occurred between the ages of 20 and 29; then 40 to 49, and 60 and 69 were about equal,
followed by a lower number between 30 and 39 and only one death after the age of 70.
For females, the whole picture was completely reversed. The largest number of women who succeeded in
killing themselves were seen after 70 years of age whilst the figures were equal for the following ages:—
20—29, 40—49, 50—59, all at half the number of the over 70's
The lowest figures were found in the 60—69 and 30—39 age groups in that order.
Figures for attempted suicides are generally calculated by a multiplication factor of 6 to 10 times that of
consummated suicides which based on average national figures should have come to 190. Yet we actually
counted 379 keeping in mind that a number of cases must have eluded our search so that the final figure may
well have reached the over 400 mark.
All figures demonstrate that the number of Haringey residents either attempting or succeeding in killing themselves
were more than double the average national rates.
Tables I and II give the overall number for attempted and consummated suicides in Haringey and Table III
shows the total population of the Borough, divided into age groups, at the time of the study.
The map depicts the distribution curiously U-shaped, of attempted and consummated suicides over the whole
of Haringey and affords a visual presentation of the areas more commonly affected than others. Several factors
prone to give rise to suicides may be deduced from it, namely: the density of the population, especially
houses in multiple occupation with few recreational amenities; single, widowed or divorced people, a shifting
population; and the young living in furnished rooms or the old and lonely who are more frequently of the female
sex. Contrary to what was believed in former years social status did not appear to influence the picture very much
and suicides were encountered right across all social strata.
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