Suicide

Overall, the data on suicide paints a rather gloomy picture and underestimates the actual scale of the phenomenon.

Data on suicide in Canada

The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada 2006, published by the Government of Canada, includes the following data:

“Early in 2002, in a summary report on suicide and attempted suicide in Canada, Statistics Canada reported that suicide is one of the leading causes of death for both men and women from adolescence to middle age. In 2003, suicide caused the deaths of 3,765 Canadians (11.9 per 100,000):27 individuals aged under 15 years; 522 aged 15-24 years; 1,437 aged 25-44 years; 1,337 aged 45-64 years; and 442 aged 65 years and over. This represented 1.7% of all deaths in Canada.

In 2003, overall, the death rate attributable to suicide was almost four times higher among men than among women (18.5 compared to 5.4 per 1,000). Among men, the rates followed an ascending curve up to 45 to 49 years old, after which it dropped until it reached the 65 to 69 years old category, then rose again. Among women, there is an increase in the suicide rate between the period of 10 to 14 years and the period of 55 to 59 years. After age 60 to 64, it drops dramatically.

More than one death in five among young adults from 15 to 24 is attributable to suicide. Among adults, the percentage of deaths by suicide drops with age. While the overall mortality rate attributable to suicide decreased slightly between 1990 and 2003, the drop was more marked among men than among women.” (Government of Canada, The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada 2006, p. 109 and 110 or http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/human-humain06/pdf/human_face_e.pdf )


Suicide in Quebec

In a document dated January 2007, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec presented the following statistics:
(Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Surveillance des suicides au Québec : Les décès imputables au suicide dans la population québécoise, January 2007, p. 6)

Rate of death by suicide for Quebec between 2000 and 2005*:

*Preliminary data from the office of the Coroner in chief

Suicide among young people

Suicide is one of the main causes of death among young people aged 15 to 29 in Quebec. In 2002, 34.5% of deaths among people aged 15 to 19 were suicides, compared to 34.7% among people 20 to 24 and 42.9% among those 25 to 29. Motor vehicle accidents were another major cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29. In 2002, they were responsible for 45.3% of deaths among 15- to 19-year-olds, 27.2% among 20- to 24-year-olds and 17.1% among 25- to 29-year-olds. (source: Secrétariat à la jeunesse, 2006-2009 Youth Action Strategy)

The proportion of the population with high levels of psychological distress or ideas of suicide is higher among teens and young adults from 15 to 24. (source: Quebec National Health Program 2003-2012, Santé et services sociaux Québec, 2003.)

Around 25% of nine-year-olds have a high level of emotional problems while, among those aged 13, almost 22% have a high level of psychological distress. However, young people from 15 to 24 have a higher level of psychological distress in greater numbers: 28% of young people this age fall into this category. (source: Quebec National Health Program 2003-2012, Santé et services sociaux Québec, 2003.)

A study by the Direction de la santé publique de la Montérégie, released in June 2001, showed that:

• 14% of 12-year-olds have considered suicide;
• 6% had already tried to kill themselves;
• the problem is more widespread among girls than boys, both in terms of suicidal ideation (20% versus 10%) and in terms of attempts (9% versus 4%);
• in 82% of cases, friends are the main confidantes;
• few of them talked to their parents (12%) or school staff (10%).

Suicide among older people

According to the most recent data released by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPS), in spite of the recent drop in suicide mortality rates, Quebec is still the province with the highest rate of suicide in Canada, both among men and women. Quebec’s suicide mortality rate compares to those of France, Switzerland and Austria. In 2005, there were 1,238 deaths by suicide in Quebec, 448 of them among people over 50. (Institut national de santé publique, January 2007)

Furthermore, according to a study performed by researchers from the Research Centre on Aging at the Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute and from the Université de Montréal, in Quebec, the rate of death by suicide among people aged 65 and over increased by 85.4% between 1977 and 1999. The INSPQ further reports that if trends continue, we may see a very high rate of suicide among people aged 55 and over in the coming years.

People aged 65 and over who commit suicide are mostly widowed, live far from their children, have not accepted retirement well and cannot find a solution to their distress. “These people are not necessarily suffering from serious illnesses,” says Michel Préville, a researcher at the Université de Sherbrooke, “but they feel isolated and feel as though they have lost their social status after retirement. The results surprised us and confirmed that the phenomenon of suicide among older people is significant and continuously growing. In 1999 in Quebec, the rate of suicide was 1.6 times higher among people 65 and over than among those under 20. But we don’t talk about it. It’s as if society were saying: It’s to be expected. They’re old.”

Suicide is therefore not a problem of too few people to devote time and attention to it. It is a social problem.


To find out more about suicide

In case of a suicide emergency:
Go directly to the hospital, call 911 or contact the suicide prevention centre in your area.

Jeunesse, J'écoute
Free 24-hour confidential service:
514.273.7007
1.800.668.6868

 Suicide-Action Montréal (SAM)
Intervention by phone for people in crisis (around the clock);
Service to loved ones of people in a suicidal crisis;
Service for people who are grieving.
514.723.4000
1.866.277.3553

S'entraider pour la vie
Help in suicide prevention is available by phone around the clock in most parts of Quebec at 1 866 APPELLE (277.3553).

Click on the “Help for Life” link to access a brochure with basic information on suicide, early signs that someone is considering suicide and support for those who are suicidal.

Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (AQPS)
Dissemination of information about suicide;
referrals to resources across the province;
organization of seminars and activities.
514.528.5858