Laura Alejandra Rico Uribe
Researcher at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the International University of La Rioja (UNIR)
Unfortunately, the figures are in line with previous research that found an increase in suicidal behaviour. A study by Gracia et al. (2021) compared suicide attempt figures during the pandemic (March 2020 - March 2021) and 12 months before the pandemic (March 2019 - March 2020), and observed a 25% increase in adolescents. The authors concluded that the effects of the pandemic, combined with high levels of social isolation and loneliness, may be related to this increase.
From my point of view, one of the main limitations we are facing is that we have not yet finished seeing the effects of this historical moment. We are still in a post-pandemic state, which continues to have serious repercussions both in suicidal behaviour and in the rest of mental health pathologies and social aspects (loneliness).
We had been observing this for decades. The need for urgent action against suicide is not new, but the current focus on suicide has increased due to the pandemic. Both intervention and prevention are lacking. The World Health Organisation warns about the lack of initiatives by many Western countries, including Spain, on effective measures to tackle suicide. Unfortunately, Spain does not currently have legislation that provides guidelines for action to prevent suicide.
We urgently need national resources and policies to research, prevent and treat suicidal behaviour for different age groups.