In Germany, no increase in suicides can be observed for the pandemic period from January 2020 to December 2021 - at least in three federal states.
“Times of crisis can affect suicide rates.
So far, however, this has not been confirmed for the corona pandemic according to international and national studies.
Our current study also shows no significant increase in suicides in Germany," says Christian Bachmann, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, who conducts research at the University Hospital in Ulm, the FAZ.
He is co-author of the study "Suicides in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic - an analysis of data from 11 million inhabitants, 2017-2021", which was published online in the "Deutsches Ärzteblatt" on Thursday.
The other authors are Daniel Radeloff,
Karen Truscheit
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The researchers examined the cases of suicide in the police crime statistics (PKS) of Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Schleswig-Holstein with a total of eleven million inhabitants in the period from January 2017 to December 2021.
According to the information, there was no evidence of a general increase in the number of suicides by older people compared to the period before the pandemic.
Because it was here in particular that people feared that the possible negative consequences of the contact restrictions - loneliness and depression - could lead to more suicides, according to Bachmann.
However, the study showed an increase in suicides among men older than 90 years old.
According to the information, however, there is generally for this age group due to the characteristics "male sex" and "old age", which are strongly associated with suicide,
More suicide attempts does not mean more deaths
The scientists did not find an increased suicide rate in the age group of children and adolescents either.
This result is also analogous to current findings from Great Britain.
In January, however, a study by the Essen University Hospital on suicide attempts by children and young people caused consternation.
At that time, the researchers in Essen used the data from a fifth of the German children's intensive care units as a basis.
It was then determined that there was an almost “triple increase” in suicide attempts among young people aged 12 to 17 during the second lockdown in spring 2021 – compared to the respective period in the years 2017 to 2019. So what is the difference between the Essen study and to explain the current investigation?
Bachmann first points out that changes in the number of suicide attempts do not necessarily have to have a direct impact on an increase in completed suicides.
"From scientific studies we know
The ratio between attempted suicide and completed suicide ranges from 10 to 1 to 30 to 1.
That's one possible explanation." In addition, the highest suicide attempt rates in adolescence in the lifespan coincide with fortunately low suicide rates.
The ratio is therefore probably significantly more than 100 to 1. "Fortunately, if suicide attempts increase, that does not necessarily mean that this also leads to increased deaths." The low number of youth suicides could also lead to different findings.
"Because the proportion of suicides by children and adolescents in the total number of suicides per year is comparatively small, we can only statistically record a very strong increase or decrease."
In addition, in adolescence, the highest suicide attempt rates in the lifespan coincide with fortunately low suicide rates.
The ratio is therefore probably significantly more than 100 to 1. "Fortunately, if suicide attempts increase, that does not necessarily mean that this also leads to increased deaths." The low number of youth suicides could also lead to different findings.
"Because the proportion of suicides by children and adolescents in the total number of suicides per year is comparatively small, we can only statistically record a very strong increase or decrease."
In addition, in adolescence, the highest suicide attempt rates in the lifespan coincide with fortunately low suicide rates.
The ratio is therefore probably significantly more than 100 to 1. "Fortunately, if suicide attempts increase, that does not necessarily mean that this also leads to increased deaths." The low number of youth suicides could also lead to different findings.
"Because the proportion of suicides by children and adolescents in the total number of suicides per year is comparatively small, we can only statistically record a very strong increase or decrease."
fortunately this does not necessarily mean that this also leads to increased deaths.” The low number of youth suicides could also lead to different findings.
"Because the proportion of suicides by children and adolescents in the total number of suicides per year is comparatively small, we can only statistically record a very strong increase or decrease."
fortunately this does not necessarily mean that this also leads to increased deaths.” The low number of youth suicides could also lead to different findings.
"Because the proportion of suicides by children and adolescents in the total number of suicides per year is comparatively small, we can only statistically record a very strong increase or decrease."
No increase in suicide rates
In general, the study points out that research on the suicidality of children and adolescents during the pandemic does not paint a uniform picture.
For example, an increase in suicidal thoughts was found among young people in the USA.
On the other hand, a German sample, albeit not representative, points to a “significant decrease” in reported suicide plans.