The number of people taking their own lives in Kent is at its lowest level in five years, according to official statistics.

Last year, suicide was recorded as the cause of death for 128 people across the county, the Office for National Statistics has revealed.

This is Kent's lowest suicide rate since 2012, when 125 cases were registered.

In Thanet, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of people taking their own life.

There were more than 20 suicides in the district in 2016, compared to 10 cases recorded last year.

West Kent also saw an overall decline, with Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks all recording lower-than-average figures.

Canterbury, however, has seen its highest number of suicides since 2012.

The city recorded 20 cases in 2017, four more than in 2016 and double the number of suicides recorded in 2012.

Gravesham, Dartford, Dover and Shepway also saw increases in the number of people taking their own lives last year.

Nationally, in 2017 the UK male suicide rate was the lowest it has been since 1981 - but men continue to make up three-quarters of registered suicides.

Chief executive of West Kent Mind and Folkestone & District Mind, Jill Roberts, said: "Any death by suicide is a real tragedy and each death deeply affects many people: friends, family members, colleagues and witnesses.

"The more we can understand about the signs and symptoms of suicide, feel confident to listen, ask the right questions and intervene the more deaths we can prevent.

"We do know that some groups in our communities are more at risk than others such as middle-aged men, anyone with a previous history of self-harm and people who are experiencing mental health problems.

"And with incidents of self-harm increasing especially amongst 16 to 24 girls we must step up our efforts at awareness raising and prevention if we are to continue to see less people taking their own lives in the future.

"But suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, and the more of us that are confident to intervene the more deaths we can prevent.

"West Kent Mind works alongside schools, businesses, statutory and other voluntary sector colleagues in Kent to reduce incidents of suicide further and we are proud to be supporting Kent’s Release the Pressure Campaign.

"Last year West Kent Mind trained over 1,000 people who live and work in Kent in suicide awareness and prevention and a further 900 people who work with children and young people who are more vulnerable to mental health problems and therefore at greater risk of suicide.

"We have also reached over 6,000 students and 1,250 teachers across 136 Kent schools.

"There is a lot more to do and we want to get to time when there are no deaths by suicide.

"As well as training West Kent Mind offers many community based services to support anyone with a mental health problem.

"We urge anyone feeling suicidal, depressed , anxious to seek help and share how they are feeling."

Details about services and training can be found at westkentmind.org.uk or by calling 01732 744950.

• For help with any of the issues raised in this article, call Samaritans free on 116 123. The charity's 24 hour helpline is available seven days a week, to anyone in need of support.