Changes in Suicide Trends during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: an Increase in the Incidence of High-Lethality Suicide Attempts

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of suicidal behaviors from the viewpoint of differences between completed suicides and attempted suicides. Additionally, changes in the number of suicides before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly from the perspective of differences in the number of suicides observed between men and women, were outlined. Furthermore, changes in the number of suicides by methods were examined. Suicide is a global public health issue, and the current coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the most critical public health disorder encountered by current generation. In Japan, the number of female suicide completers increased in 2020 compared with that in the previous year, and the proportion of individuals using the “hanging” method, which is the most lethal method, also increased. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic might be a factor that influenced the previous most likely suicide attempters to become suicide completers. Although the reason for more individuals adopting lethal suicide methods during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown, it is speculated that it is associated with self-restraint and constraints on consultation activities because of behavioral restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. To clarify the reasons for this tendency, further investigation and examination of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on suicide are needed.