BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field  has called for more to be done to prevent suicides after figures revealed a dramatic and alarming increase in such deaths in Wirral.

Figures from the House of Commons Library show the numbers of suicides are consistently higher for men, who accounted for 67 suicides in Wirral between 2009 and 2012, compared to 18 for women.

The statistics also show that the total number of suicides in the borough has increased from 17 in 2009 – 10 men and seven women – to 24 in 2012 – 19 men and five women.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Field said: “Each one of these suicides represents a huge personal tragedy. They are also a catastrophe for the family, friends and loved ones of those individuals.

“It’s now imperative that we begin to look more seriously at what the cause of suicides are, and how best to prevent the, so that those 85 lives have not been lost for nothing.”

Mr Field added: “I’d been contacted by the Mersey Counselling and Therapy Centre who are organising a major talk later this month on the root causes of suicide, by leading Irish suicide counsellor Dr Jim O’Donoghue.

“They were troubled in not getting national data broken down for our locality and they requested that the House of Commons Library produce that data.”

Angela O’ Connor, director at the Wallasey-based therapy centre said: “We’re waking up to the tragedy of suicide but we need to understand its causes. It’s one of society’s last taboos.”

Dr O’Donoghue’s lecture “The Tragedy of Suicide – Its Source and Its Prevention” takes place at Wallasey Town Hall on October 18.