This article presents an overview of suicide trends by age & gender between 1982-96 for the constituent countries of the United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales. This is followed by a more detailed analysis of England & Wales by region & local authority. The regional analysis covers 2 time periods, 1982-86 & 1992-96, enabling a comparison of suicide rates over time. The local authority analysis covers 1991-1996 & provides a more detailed picture, identifying smaller areas of the country where suicide mortality is high & those where it is low. (10 refs.)