Effects of the pandemic on suicide data in Catalonia during 2020

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 could have brought an increase in suicidal behavior, however, the data collected worldwide so far is not conclusive.

The aim of this study was to explore trends in suicidal behavior (suicidal behaviors, ideation, and deaths) in 2020 compared to 2019.

Compared to 2019, in 2020 rates of suicidal behavior decreased on average by 6.3% and death rates from suicide increased by 1.2%.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X21016503

In 2020, during the months of severe restrictions imposed by the pandemic, there was a greater decrease in consultations for suicidal behavior.

The data were obtained from the Suicide Risk Code of Catalonia and the regional police to compare the monthly incidence of suicidal behavior and death by suicide in the years 2020 and 2019.

In 2020, a total of 4,263 inquiries related to suicidal behavior (behaviors and ideation) and 555 deaths due to suicide were registered in Catalonia.