In 2020, the year that will go down in history due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3,941 people committed suicide in Spain, an alarming figure that translates into 11 a day and one every two and a quarter hours. It is the highest number of self-inflicted deaths in the country since they are counted, that is, since 1906.
Suicide has become the leading cause of unnatural death in Spain, as revealed by data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and those from the Spanish Foundation for Suicide Prevention (FSME). It is noteworthy that this type of death almost triples deaths from traffic accidents and causes 13.6 times more deaths than homicides.
If we look back, in 2014 there were 8.31 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants in a population of 46.5 million, and in 2020 the figure is somewhat lower, 8.27 per 100,000, however, the population Spain has grown, reaching 47.3 million inhabitants, which translates into the highest number of suicides in history.
Suicides triple the number of deaths from traffic accidents and cause 13.6 times more deaths than homicides
Specifically, there has been an increase of 7.4% compared to 2019, assuming an increase of 270 deaths per year. The main reason for this dramatic increase is the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, since this exceptional situation has increased other risk factors for suicide, such as economic, work, personal, health or emotional problems.
Worse mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The confinement experienced in Spain caused many inhabitants to lose their jobs, with the concern that this entails, which, added to not being able to share time and space with friends and family, has taken a toll on mental health, increasing cases of anxiety, depression, disorders mental, insomnia and much more.
Delving deeper into the figures, it is observed that men commit suicide more than women, 2,930 compared to 1,011 this 2020, although they try three times more, according to data from the Suicide Observatory in Spain. Another alarming fact is that self-inflicted deaths in women aged 50 to 59 have increased by 27%, with 254 cases.
The same happens in older people, those over 80 years of age commit suicide 20% more than in previous years, and in young people under 15 years of age where the rate has doubled, 14 boys and girls took their own lives in 2020 compared to 7 that did so in 2019. In terms of deaths by autonomous community, Andalusia is in first place, followed by Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Community of Madrid, although proportionally to their population, Asturias and the Basque Country are where more cases of these deaths occur.
With all these alarming data, it is clear that measures must be taken to prevent suicides, providing psychological help and support in other areas to people who need it. The Spanish Foundation for Suicide Prevention (FSME) has published Prevensuic, a practical suicide prevention guide for professionals, as well as an application for this group, people at risk and their families, in addition to its website.
.
