Suicide prevention awareness is represented by the colour yellow..

By Liam Verster

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Preliminary data shows Alberta’s suicide rates declined in 2020

Mar 9, 2021 | 9:37 AM

Preliminary data from medical examiners in Alberta shows there were fewer suicide deaths in the province in 2020 than in the past nine years.

The data shows 468 Albertans took their own lives in 2020, which translates to a ratio of 10.6 suicides per 100,000 people. That rate is much lower than years past as there were 601 suicides in 2019 (which translates to a ratio of 13.8); 630 (14.7) in 2018; 647 (15.3) in 2017; 609 (14.5) in 2016; 668 (16.1) in 2015; 547 (13.4) in 2014; 537 (13.5) in 2013; and 505 (13.0) in 2012.

The Centre for Suicide Prevention says updated figures from Alberta Vital Statistics shows 12 suicide deaths in Red Deer in 2020. That figure is up from 2019, when there were 13 suicides recorded in the city, and also from when there were 11 in 2018. In 2017, there were 21.

A deeper dive into the data shows men are over three times more likely to die by suicide, with the 2020 numbers showing 367 Albertan men took their lives versus 101 women over the course of the year. However, the ratio of suicide attempts is the opposite, with women attempting suicide five times more than men.

In 2020, there were 26 youths between the ages of 15 and 19 who took their own life, and there were 10 youths under the age of 15 who died by suicide.

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The data also shows that in northern Alberta, there were 146 such deaths. That figure is lower than previous years, including 2019 (184 suicides) and 2018 (180).

The figures for both 2020 and 2019 are still considered preliminary, as it can take up to 18 months to fully process and verify reports from medical examiners.

The decrease in suicides comes despite the economic and mental health issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which Mara Grunau, the executive director of the Centre for Suicide Prevention, says is not a surprise, as suicides don’t tend to manifest in the midst of a crisis.

“Suicide is considered a lagging indicator of things that might be happening in a population. So there are things that happen right away when a really big awful thing happens, and there are things that happen kind of mid-way, and there are things that happen later, and as a group,” explains Grunau.

“If we’re looking at a population level, if they are going to experience a rise in suicides, which we’re not necessarily going to, but if we were, we wouldn’t expect it for a while. It’s a delayed response.”

She says people are hard-wired to live, which, in general, makes taking one’s own life very hard to do, and getting to a state where that option can be considered takes time.

Grunau adds that when large-scale events happen, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fort McMurray fires or the floods in southern Alberta, there tends to be a coming together at first. However, as time goes on and people’s mental health deteriorates, and personal and financial resources diminish, suicide then becomes an option some begin to consider.

Grunau says financial supports for individuals and businesses, along with investments into mental health initiatives and supports, also helped keep rates down in 2020. She says as the pandemic continues to impact people’s mental health and financial resources, there needs to be more focus on community intervention and government policies to help guard against a potential spike in suicide.

People can also help each other, she points out, by having open frank discussions on the topic, and by keeping an eye on friends and family members. People are advised to monitor for warning signs, such as dramatic changes in personality and demeanor; changes in eating and/or sleeping habits; giving away possessions, and verbal clues such as ‘not having to worry about things much longer.’

She adds there are also resources available for both those contemplating suicide and those worried about someone. People in those situations are advised to call the Crisis Services Canada line at 1-833-456-4566 or the Canadian Mental Health Association branch in Edmonton at 780-482-4357 to get more support and information.