The latest suicide figures from the Office for National Statistics, for 2012, confirm a high risk of suicide in middle-aged men. Suicide is known to be a leading cause of death for men aged 20-34, but

Samaritans research shows that the group most vulnerable to having suicidal thoughts is actually men in their 30s, 40s and 50s. The UK group with the highest rate of suicide (25.9 per 100,000) is men aged 40-44. Samaritans are highlighting the suicide risk to men as part of Men's Health Week, which runs from 9 to 15 June

This research, commissioned as part of the ongoing partnership with Network Rail for the We're In Your Corner campaign, suggests that men from lower socio-economic backgrounds have the highest risk of all.

The aim of the We're In Your Corner initiative is to raise awareness of the issue, encourage these men to seek help, understand why this group are most at risk of suicide and influence policy makers.

The latest call figures from Samaritans show that in 2013, 42 per cent of callers to the helpline were male. Though this is down 0.7 per cent on the previous year and 2.5 per cent on 2011, men's high suicide rates are still a concern.

Joe Ferns, Executive Director of Policy, Research & Development at Samaritans said:

"While it is certainly encouraging that the percentage of men contacting Samaritans is falling, the fact remains that men in their middle years, from poorer backgrounds are the group most likely to take their own lives. It's essential that policy makers and everyone involved in healthcare and social services recognises this and treats suicide as a health and social inequality."

Men's Health Week 2014 is led by the Men's Health Forum and runs from the 9th to 15th June. It focusses on improving men's health and the workplace, including topics like stress and unemployment.

Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year. We provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them. Please call 08457 90 90 90 (UK) 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit http://www.samaritans.org to find details of the nearest branch.