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- What age group was most affected by the spike in suicide attempts and why?
The age group most affected by the spike in suicide attempt rates was adolescents and adults between the ages of 12 and 24. To break it down further, there was a 31% increase in ER visits related to some kind of mental health issue in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, and the remaining ages of 18 to 24 were more focused on having mental health problems related to the pandemic. These cases also include self-harm visits that were not suicidal. This was most likely a result of the mandates relating to the pandemic, specifically the social distancing and the stay-at-home order, in March of 2020. Teenagers specifically are known for having somewhat delicate minds and therefore it would make sense that because of the pandemic and the added source of anxiety, they would be more prone to suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
- What gender was most affected by the spike in suicide attempts and why?
The spike in suicide attempt rates was more prominent in women than men. This statistic follows previous information that states adolescent females are more likely to commit suicide or have suicidal thoughts. This fact is shown prominently in the statistics relating to these specific cases because, during the pandemic, there was a 50.6% increase in emergency department (ED) visits for possible suicide attempts in women compared to the 3.7% increases in ED visits for suicide attempts during the same period. Historically, women have usually had a higher rate of anxiety, depression, and/or suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
- Why have the suicide attempt rates spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic?
It was suspected that the spikes in suicide attempt rates were caused by the sudden disconnection of students and adults with guidance counselors and therapists that had previously helped these people with pre-existing mental problems. Because of the fact that many people didn’t know what to do about the pandemic and the threat that it posed, many became extremely stressed about the situation. Adding on to the fact that at the beginning of the lockdown many medical offices had not yet figured out how they were going to execute telehealth and it was not yet available, there was a lot of damage that occurred. As a result, many people became extremely anxious and depressed without professional help, and many became suicidal at an alarmingly fast rate. This sudden change was bound to produce instability with the part of the population that relied on mental health care professionals, and though not everything has been altogether determined, most of these events make a lot of sense and are easy to come to some kind of conclusion based on evidence and professional knowledge on the situation.
- Where were the suicide attempts most prevalent and why?
In general, suicide rates have usually been most prevalent in rural communities. This is suspected to be caused by the seclusion rural communities have compared to metropolitan cities. This correlates with other research explaining why the pandemic had anything to do with stimulating the sudden rise in suicide attempt rates. These rates spiked because of the loss of connection between people and their mental health care professionals, but also the loss of connection between society in general. Most of our population has become dependent on constant socialization, so taking that away induced severe anxiety and depression in people. Keeping this in mind, if someone were to grow up in a place that is already secluded from society on a regular basis, it would make sense that they would have a higher suicide rate.
- Was there any specific group of ethnicity that was affected by the sudden spike in suicide attempt rates?
Taking ethnicity into account, these suicide attempts have been more prominently shown in Caucasian adolescent females. The next highest rates were found in Hispanics, and then in African Americans. Despite the fact that Caucasian and Hispanic rates were next to each other when speaking in terms of the suicide attempt rates, there was a significant difference between the two. These cases are dominated by Caucasian adolescent females, and though there is a fraction that includes Hispanics and African Americans, that fraction is very small. This is very logical because religion is very important to Hispanic culture, and the most prominent religion in the Hispanic population is Catholicism. The Catholic Church is very much against the idea of suicide, and since this religion is so important to this specific population, it would make sense that they would adhere to these rules. African Americans have also had a long history of having a low rate in this matter, so it follows that they would continue this trend. Because of this, and the evidence it supports, it coheres with the current statistics stating the prominence of Caucasians in suicide attempt rates.
Comparison of suicide attempt rates between girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 17 from 2019 to 2021
Comparison of suicide attempt rates between women and men between the ages of 18 and 25 from 2019 to 2021
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