The B.C. Coroners Service says there has been no increase in suicide deaths in the province during the pandemic, despite concerns about serious mental health consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preliminary data released by the coroners service on Tuesday show that from April 2020 to February 2021, there were 534 confirmed deaths by suicide in the province 鈥� 116 in Island Health 鈥� compared to 610 reported in the province for the same months in 2019 and 2020, including 131 in Island Health. That represents a 12 per cent drop province-wide.
There were 609 deaths by suicide in the 2020 calendar year, a nine per cent decrease from the 652 deaths recorded in 2019. In Island Health in 2020, however, suicides rose to 137 from 128 in 2019.
The pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Most of B.C.鈥檚 health authorities recorded fewer deaths between April 2020 and February 2021 than between April 2019 and February 2020, with the exception of 91原创 Coastal health region, which saw five more deaths.
Illicit drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the province, followed by suicide, motor vehicle incidents and homicides.
The B.C. Coroners Service said data and trends for 2020 and 2021 should be interpreted 鈥渨ith caution, as the data require time to settle.鈥� The final classification of suicide is not confirmed until the coroner鈥檚 investigation is completed.
In 2021, there were more suicides in the 50-59 age group than any other, followed by the 19-29 and 30-39 age groups.
A B.C. Coroners Service report looking at suicides for the decade from 2008 to 2018 showed Victoria with the third highest number of such deaths after 91原创 and Surrey.