Between 2020 and 2022, the number of people who took their own lives in Flanders increased by nearly 4%, according to figures from the public health ministry. While figures among men have decreased, there is a sharp increase in suicides among women.
Suicides increase for first time in 20 years: “Rising numbers among women is concerning”
Lisa Bradshaw
Published:
In 2022, the number of people who committed suicide in Flanders was up by 3.7% compared to 2020, according to figures released by Flemish public health minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V). The figures do not include people who chose to die by euthanasia, which is not considered suicide.
Suicide figures fell every year for the past two decades until 2022, when 1,024 people took their own life. Although suicides among men continued to decrease, the number of women who died by suicide increased drastically – by nearly 18%.
The pandemic had particularly negative consequences for women
Gwendolyn Portzky
The figures are most dramatic among women aged 60 to 74, where the suicide rate increased by more than one-third. But the increase among women aged 15 to 29 is also alarming – an increase of 26%.
“The rate among men has remained relatively stable, but the increase among women is very concerning,” says Gwendolyn Portzky of the Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention. “We are seeing a similar rise in other countries as well.”
Experts believe that the corona crisis has something to do with the increase of suicides among women. “The pandemic had particularly negative consequences for women,” confirms Portzky. “They were saddled with a majority of the increased care obligations when daycares and school shut down – while they had to do their own jobs as well. There was also an increased risk of domestic violence because of the isolation and less access to support services.”
War in Ukraine
The number of suicides increasing after the worst of the pandemic was over is in line with expectations, she explains, as experts had predicted that the consequences would reverberate into the future. “Right after the final corona measures eased up, the war in Ukraine broke out,” says Portzky, “quickly followed by the energy crisis. These are circumstances that do not offer hopeful perspectives.”
She also thinks that social media can have a very negative influence on girls and young women. “Suicide remains a major societal challenge,” she says. “It is more crucial than ever to focus on prevention – among the entire population. Everyone can help by taking care of their own well-being and the well-being of those around them by noticing signals that things are not going well and starting a conversation around it. There are many places to turn for help.”