QCOSTARICA — Suicide attempts in Costa Rica have doubled in the last four years, this is clear from the data by the Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health) up to the end of December 2023.
According to the data, there were 3,959 cases of attempted suicide, up from 2,896 in 2022, 2,159 cases in 2021, and 1,786 in 2020.
Of the 3,959 suicide attempts in 2023, 2,673 were recorded in women (102.3 attempts per 100,000 inhabitants), and 1,286 attempts in men (48.6 per 100,000).
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Alarming is that youths between 10 and 19 years old show the highest rates, which, according to the Ministry of Health, underlines the need to implement inter-institutional, community and school prevention programs to reduce cases of suicide attempts in this population.
According to the report for 2023, among children between 10 and 14 years old the attempted suicide rate is 201.8 suicide attempts per 100,000 inhabitants; In adolescents between 15 and 19 years old, it reached 262.2 suicide attempts per 100,000.
The next highest rate was reported in the population aged 20 to 24 years, with 137.8 suicide attempts per 100,000.
According to the ministry, the factors associated with a greater risk of attempted suicide, particularly in adolescents, are:
- A previous suicide attempt
- Presence of mental illness
- Behavior problems
- Sex
- Age
- Alcohol and drug use
- Low self-esteem
- Suffer violence or abuse
- Type of family functioning
- Impulsiveness
- Lack of social support
The Costa Rican Association of Psychiatry (ASOCOPSI) has highlighted that the risk is occurring from an early age.
“From the age of 8 there are children who are already having suicidal behavior or suicidal ideation, or suicides that exist but, of course, cannot be published,” explains Francisco Golcher, president of the ASOCOPSI, who highlighted that the information does not circulate to avoid imitation.
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“Yes, there have been cases of people between the ages of 8 and 12 who have already made suicide attempts or committed suicide,” he mentioned.
Gender
Likewise, the data presented by the Ministry of Health warns that women continue to be the population group with the highest number of cases.
Of the total of 3,959 cases in 2023, a total of 2,673 or 68% who attempted suicides were women.
While men represent 32% with 1,286 cases.
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The recorded statistics allow us to identify a certain profile in the people who make attempts at their own life: the majority are women between the ages of 25 and 50.
“The attempt is the main risk factor for completed suicide and constitutes an enormous social and economic burden due to the use of health services to treat injuries, the psychological and social impact that, sometimes, leads to long-term disability,” explained the Ministry of Health.
Region
Analyzing data by provinces, in first place is Limón, followed by Puntarenas and San José in third.
“However, San José is the province with the most reported cases due to factors such as population density and better access to health services that allow faster care,” highlights the ministry.
Furthermore, regarding the behavior according to canton, the highest rate is maintained by Palmares de Alajuela.
“This canton of Alajuela is far above Puriscal, which by 2023, displaced Osa, which had had preponderance throughout the year, and Osa was placed in third position,” highlighted the report.
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