Reactive surveillance of suicides during the COVID-19 pandemic in France, 2020 to March 2022.
Anne FouilletDiane MartinIsabelle PontaisCéline Caserio-SchönemannGrégoire ReyPublished in: Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences (2023)
This study highlighted the absence of an increase in suicide mortality during France's COVID-19 pandemic and a substantial decline during lockdown periods, something already observed in other countries. The increase in suicide mortality observed in 18-24 year-old age group and in men aged 65-84 years old from mid-2021 to March 2022 suggests a prolonged impact of COVID-19 on mental health, also described on self-harm hospitalizations and emergency department's attendances in France. Further studies are required to explain the factors for this change. Reactive monitoring of suicide mortality needs to be continued since mental health consequences and the increase in suicide mortality may be continued in the future with the international context.