Alarming improve in suicide makes an attempt amongst younger individuals since Covid-19 | EUROtoday
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LYoung persons are considering extra about suicide and are more and more committing suicide. This is what reveals the newest Public Health France barometer printed this Monday, February 5, on the sidelines of World Suicide Prevention Day. The research, which covers the yr 2021, signifies that, amongst respondents aged 18 to 85, 4.2% considered suicide that yr, together with 7.2% of younger adults, aged 18 to 24 years. The most affected are ladies, represented at 4.8%, in comparison with 3.5% of males.
If France has “one of the highest suicide rates” in Europe, Public Health France has famous a transparent improve amongst younger adults for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic. In 2017, 4.6% of 18-24 yr olds surveyed mentioned that they had had suicidal ideas. They had been 7.4% in 2020. Suicide makes an attempt additionally appear to have elevated with the pandemic: in 2017, 6.1% of 18-24 yr olds declared having made an try throughout their life, in comparison with 8.9% in 2020 and 10.8% in 2021. The median age of the final act can be 24 years for each women and men. “Since 2014, suicidal thoughts have doubled among 18-24 year olds,” notes the general public group.
Adolescents additionally involved
In view of those figures, the nationwide public well being company subsequently warns of the “significant impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on the mental health of the population”, with “a greater deterioration in the mental health of the most young people following the pandemic. An observation corroborated by the figures for “use of emergency services in the Oscour network” recorded since 2004, and which also demonstrate an increase in admissions of young patients for “mood disorders” and “suicidal gestures”.
READ ALSO Addictions, violence, depression… Adolescents: a state of emergencyAdolescents, excluded from the study, would also be particularly affected. “The survey on health and consumption during the defense preparation call (Escapad) carried out among all 17-year-olds shows a sharp increase in suicidal thoughts over the last 12 months (18% of young people in 2022, compared to 11.4% in 2017)”, points out Public Health France.
Isolated people are the most vulnerable
The causes of this dynamic are numerous, and regularly mentioned: eco-anxiety in the face of climate change, declining purchasing power and imperiled pensions prevent many young people from planning ahead. Public Health France also draws attention to loneliness and isolation, a determining factor among unemployed, poorly educated people living alone.
To fight this phenomenon and the rising unease amongst younger individuals, the company recommends strengthening prevention and help for suicidal younger individuals, which continues to be inadequate. Indeed, amongst those that took motion, “only a little more than half say they benefited from follow-up after leaving the hospital,” notes Public Health France. She notably recollects the existence of VigilanS, a system towards the danger of recurrence.
https://www.lepoint.fr/sante/alarmante-hausse-des-tentatives-de-suicide-chez-les-jeunes-depuis-le-covid-19–05-02-2024-2551549_40.php#xtor=RSS-221