Suicides in Tricity and Gdańsk County in 2010–2023: insights from demographic and toxicological data

TL;DR

This study analyzes suicide trends in Tricity and Gdańsk County from 2010–2023, focusing on demographics, methods, and intoxication levels.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into suicide patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of intoxication in Tricity and Gdańsk County.

Findings

Suicide rates increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a notable rise in intoxicated victims.

Hanging was the most common suicide method, and males and city residents were overrepresented.

Ethyl alcohol was the most frequently detected psychoactive substance among suicide victims.

Abstract

The analysis of the number of suicides in Poland in the years 1999–2023 done by the National Police Headquarters shows a range from 3 530 (in 2007) to 6 165 (in 2013), with a downward trend since 2013. The highest rates of suicides were noted among age groups of 55–64 years and 30–39 years. Males comprise the majority of suicide attempts (72%) and deaths (85%). Similar trends are observed in the territory of Tricity (an urban area consisting of three contiguous cities—Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia) and Gdańsk County, where in the years 2010–2019, suicides were predominantly committed by middle-aged males. The purpose of this study was to analyze suicide deaths based on protocols of postmortem examinations done at the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Gdańsk in the years 2010–2023. The focus was on the annual number of deaths, suicide method, place of death, sex, age, season, history of psychiatric disorders, and the level of intoxication. The results of the analysis indicate an increased number of suicides during the COVID-19 pandemic, predominance of males and city residents among suicide victims, and hanging as the main method of suicide. An increase in intoxicated victims was noted during the pandemic, as well as a higher contribution of ethyl alcohol in male suicides. The highest number of positive results for psychoactive substances was for ethyl alcohol. Most of the suicide victims were aged from 42 to 50 years, with a downward trend from 2018 to 2023, when an increased number of suicides was noted among people up to 30 years of age.

Figures