Suicide rates have been shown to increase in countries where assisted suicide or euthanasia is legal, a study has revealed.

The study, Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and Suicide Rates in Europe, was published in The Journal of Ethics in Mental Health. It examined data on assisted suicide, euthanasia and violent suicides between 1990 and 2016 in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland — where assisted suicide has been legalised. The findings were then compared to data from bordering European countries where assisted suicide has not been legalised.

The study revealed that no European country which practices euthanasia or assisted suicide has seen a reduction in overall suicide rates.

Instead, the report found that the introduction of euthanasia and assisted suicide often “is followed by considerable increases in suicide and in intentional self-initiated death.”

Professor David Albert Jones, founder of the study, affirmed that the new data debunks claims that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide will lead to declined suicide rates.

Responding to the data, Professor Albert Jones said: "This is further evidence that legalising assisted suicide or euthanasia will result in more people ending their lives prematurely,

"It will not save lives. It will not help prevent suicide. Legalising what is euphemistically called 'assisted dying' will endanger the lives of older people living with serious illness.

"We must say very clearly to all people irrespective of age, disability or illness, that they should not be made to feel that they are a burden to the community. They are full members of our society and the human family. We are all enriched by their presence."

SPUC comment

An SPUC spokesperson said: “This data arrives during a time when two lethal suicide bills are being considered in the UK.

“Once passed into law, assisted suicide promotes the dangerous notion that life is disposable, and can be treated as such.

“Assisted suicide is dangerous, it must be resisted.”