The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted why it is so important to collect data on equalities. It shone a light on how inconsistent the statutory sector has been in there approach to collecting this data. In turn, this hindered their ability to mobilise their workforce and services to respond to the needs of communities when they were in desperate situations.

The absence of equalities data is no different when we look at rates of suicide. The data available is on age, sex and geographical location because it is not mandatory to collect data on ethnicity on death certificates. To some degree, this has been helpful as we know that men are disproportionately affected. However, we have no idea if there are differences in experiences by ethnicity.

Due to structural racism, Black people experience poorer mental health outcomes. Still, the lack of data makes it difficult to know to what extent Black communities are affected by suicide. Without this information, we are left to make assumptions about who is at risk, and neither are we able to provide culturally appropriate support. Suicide is preventable, and access to data on ethnicity would help us to focus our prevention efforts to achieve #ZeroSuicides within the Black community and other minority ethnic communities.