Were there more suicides during the corona crisis?

The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on suicide rates varied globally, with some countries seeing increases while others reported stable or even declining rates.

In general, there were fears that the COVID-19 pandemic would lead to an increase in suicides due to factors such as social isolation, economic uncertainty, and reduced access to mental health care. However, the actual impact varied by country and region.

In Japan, a significant increase in suicides was reported, especially among women and young people during certain periods of the pandemic. In the US, the data were mixed. Some studies reported no significant increase in suicides, while others reported an increase in certain demographic groups, such as young people and African Americans.

In several European countries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, no significant changes in suicide rates were reported during the first waves of the pandemic. In the Netherlands, suicide rates remained relatively stable during the first phase of the pandemic, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Australia reported stable or declining suicide rates during the first months of the pandemic, which may be due to extensive government support and improved access to mental health care.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html

Source: https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/longread/statistische-trends/2021/zelfdoding-in-nederland-een-overzicht-vanaf-1950

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-11 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024