The burden of suicide in Brazil: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide deaths varies according to location, sex, and age. This study analyzed the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) concerning suicide in Brazil. Methods: This study described the mortality and years of life lost (YLL) due to premature death caused by suicide in Brazil in 1990 and 2019. The numbers, crude and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and YLL were compared among Brazilian states, age groups, and sexes. Results: There were 13,502 suicides in Brazil in 2019, 46.00% more than in 1990. The crude mortality rate increased 0.32%, while the ASMR declined -21.68% during the period. Crude and age-standardized YLL rates declined by -7.24% and -18.38%, respectively. In 2019, the biggest ASMRs were found in the South, whereas from 1990 to 2019, the ASMR declined in the South, Southeast, and Midwest, and increased in the Northeast. The number of suicides was higher among individuals aged 15-49 years, and suicide rates were higher among those aged over 70 years. From 1990 to 2019, an increase in the rate was found only of 10-14 years of age. Suicide was highest in men, except in the 10-14-year age group, ranking third in mortality among men of 15-34 years of age and fourth among women of 15-24 years of age. Conclusions: The ASMR and YLL for suicide declined since 1990, but suicide remains an important factor of mortality in the country. The South Region, men, elderly, and youth should be priorities in the implementation of suicide prevention strategies in Brazil.

The rising trends of self-harm in Brazil: an ecological analysis of notifications, hospitalisations, and mortality between 2011 and 2022

“…While the global suicide rate has decreased worldwide, Brazil had an increase in self-harm and suicide rates, following an increase in overall rates in Latin America, and countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, and Mexico. 1 , 21 Previous studies have shown increased suicide rates in Brazil, 7 , 19 with relative stability observed during the COVID-19 period (until 2020). 8 , 9 Our study, with the extension of data to 2022, aligns with these results for the pandemic period, underscoring the persistent increase in suicide rates over time, and in opposition to some hypothesis that suicide had reduced due to the pandemic.…”

“…In 2019, the suicide rate was 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in Brazil. 6 , 7 Despite a 36% worldwide reduction in the number of suicides from 2000 to 2019, the Americas region demonstrated a 17% increase during this period, 1 with Brazil ranking among the countries with the most significant rise (43%). 1 , 6 In 2020, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Brazil was one of the most affected countries, being responsible for 10% of world COVID-19 deaths in this year.…”

Suicide among Indigenous peoples in Brazil from 2000 to 2020: a descriptive study

“… 13 Older (aged 60 and over) individuals had the highest suicide rates in the Brazilian, general, non-Indigenous population during the study period. 6 , 8 However, among Brazilian Indigenous people, the older age group experienced the lowest suicide rates, compared to the younger age groups (highest rate was 12.43/100,000 in 2017. Previous studies have reported that the loss of Indigenous identity and rising occurrence of sexual violence are contributors to the higher number of suicides observed among young people.…”

“… 6 , 7 From 1990 to 2019, the overall mortality rate, due to suicide, increased by 46% (95% UI: 37.2–59.9). 8 The ethnic group (race/colour is the term that the Brazilian government uses) experiencing the highest suicide rates in Brazil is the Indigenous population. 6 …”