Increase in suicide rates in Brazil: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

de Oliveira, Osmar Alves; Vilela, Thais Ceresér

doi:10.1590/0047-2085-2025-0035

Tabla de contenido Anterior Actual Siguiente

Tabla de contenido

Artigo Original • J. bras. psiquiatr. 75 • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0047-2085-2025-0035 linkcopy

Increase in suicide rates in Brazil: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objective: To analyze the trends in suicide mortality rates in Brazil during the pre-pandemic (2016–2019) and pandemic (2020–2023) periods.

Methods: This ecological time-series study used suicide mortality data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM). Deaths were classified according to ICD-10 codes for intentional self-harm (X60–X84), poisoning of undetermined intent (Y10–Y19), and their sequelae. Suicide mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated by region, sex, age group, and period. Temporal trends were estimated using Joinpoint regression, with annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), both with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Brazil showed a significant increasing trend in suicide mortality over the entire period (APC = 4.55%; p < 0.001). Pre-pandemic years presented a significant increase (AAPC = 5.07%; p = 0.03), and the pandemic period maintained an upward trend of lower magnitude (AAPC = 3.87%; p = 0.021). All macro-regions exhibited significant increases in the total period, with the most pronounced growth observed in the North (APC = 6.60%; p < 0.001) and Center-West (APC = 5.27%; p < 0.001). Among adults (20–59 years), rates increased in the total period (APC = 4.87%; p < 0.001) and during the pandemic (APC = 6.26%; p = 0.038). Among older adults (≥ 60 years), a significant increase occurred in the total period (APC = 1.40%; p = 0.01). Men and women showed significant increases in the total period, but only men maintained a rising trend during the pandemic. In the Southern region, only Santa Catarina showed a significant increase in the total period.

Conclusion: Suicide mortality in Brazil increased both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with notable regional and demographic disparities. These findings highlight the need for suicide prevention policies that are sensitive to population inequalities and to the prolonged social and health impacts of large-scale crises.

KEY-WORDS
Suicide; COVID-19 Pandemic; Mental Health; Psychosocial Impact; Social Isolation

População geral	Período total (2016-2023)			Pré-pandemia (2016-2019)			Pandemia (2020-2023)
População geral	Taxa	VPA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p
Brasil	6,64	4,55 (2,86 - 6,27)	<0,001	6,04	5,07 (3,00 - 7,18)	<0,001	7,24	3,87 (0,55 - 7,29)	0,021
Sul	10,50	3,69 (0,94 - 6,52)	0,008	9,72	4,96 (1,62 - 8,41)	0,017	11,29	-3,29 (7,65 - 0,73)	0,462
Sudeste	5,77	4,12 (2,37 - 5,89)	<0,001	5,29	4,63 (2,51 - 6,80)	0,005	6,25	3,43 (0,01 - 6,97)	0,049
Centro-Oeste	8,00	5,27 (2,78 - 7,82)	<0,001	7,22	4,83 (0,01 - 9,90)	0,049	8,78	5,87 (-0,82 - 13,01)	0,068
Norte	5,93	6,60 (5,48 - 7,73)	<0,001	5,22	7,04 (4,67 - 9,45)	<0,001	6,65	6,27 (5,20 - 7,36)	<0,001
Nordeste	5,80	4,98 (0,91 - 9,22)	0,015	5,20	3,65 (-8,04 - 16,85)	0,410	6,40	5,99 (-0,93 - 13,40)	0,071

Gênero		Período total (2016-2023)			Pré pandemia (2016-2019)			Pandemia (2020-2023)
Gênero		Taxa	VPA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p
Brasil
	20 a 59 anos	8,58	4,87 (2,80 - 6,98)	<0,001	7,80	3,83 (-0,13 - 7,97)	0,054	9,37	6,26 (0,64 - 12,22)	0,038
	60 anos ou mais	8,34	1,40 (0,31 - 2,91)	0,010	7,97	2,81 (0,73 - 6,28)	0,009	8,71	-0,44 (-3,14 - 2,25)	0,743
Sul
	20 a 59 anos	12,88	4,19 (1,41 - 7,06)	0,002	11,85	4,49 (1,13 - 7,97)	0,023	13,91	3,80 (-1,65 - 9,55)	0,175
	60 anos ou mais	15,16	1,01 (-0,21 - 2,79)	0,096	14,67	3,19 (1,87 - 7,13)	0,006	15,64	-1,81 (-4,93-0,54)	0,139
Sudeste
	20 a 59 anos	7,67	4,58 (1,84 - 7,40)	<0,001	7,02	3,48 (-1,73 - 8,98)	0,125	8,33	6,06 (-1,44 - 14,13)	0,083
	60 anos ou mais	5,98	1,23 (-4,34 - 7,13)	0,672	5,69	2,64 (-4,09 - 9,85)	0,308	6,27	-0,62 (-11,26 - 11,28)	0,913
Centro-Oeste
	20 a 59 anos	10,18	6,23 (2,41 - 10,20)	0,001	9,00	4,96 (-2,40 - 12,89)	0,124	11,37	7,94 (-2,25 - 19,21)	0,091
	60 anos ou mais	9,66	1,03 (-2,55 - 4,75)	0,578	9,63	-0,25 (-4,55 - 4,23)	0,863	9,69	2,77 (-4,34 - 10,42)	0,455
Norte
	20 a 59 anos	7,64	6,61 (5,35 - 7,83)	<0,001	6,75	5,34 (2,10 - 8,93)	<0,001	8,53	8,32 (5,39 - 11,29)	<0,001
	60 anos ou mais	6,87	1,69 (-9,01 - 13,65)	0,767	6,43	-1,05 (-21,63 - 24,93)	0,929	7,31	3,79 (-7,30 - 16,22)	0,371
Nordeste
	20 a 59 anos	7,55	4,82 (1,16 - 8,60)	0,009	6,82	2,92 (-7,56 - 14,59)	0,456	8,28	6,26 (0,02 - 12,90)	0,049
	60 anos ou mais	8,25	1,93 (-2,79 - 6,90)	0,428	7,74	3,65 (-2,08 - 9,72)	0,138	8,76	-0,30 (-9,34 - 9,63)	0,949

Gênero		Período total (2016-2023)			Pré pandemia (2016-2019)			Pandemia (2020-2023)
Gênero		Taxa	VPA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p
Brasil
	Masculino	10,65	4,43 (2,93 - 5,95)	<0,001	9,71	4,84 (3,01 - 6,70)	0,003	11,59	3,89 (0,95 - 6,91)	0,009
	Feminino	2,80	5,07 (2,62 - 7,59)	<0,001	2,52	5,97 (2,94 - 9,10)	0,007	3,08	3,88 (-0,86 - 8,86)	0,110
Sul
	Masculino	17,00	3,71 (1,31 - 6,17)	0,002	15,7	5,08 (2,16 - 8,07)	0,011	18,3	1,92 (-2,73 - 6,79)	0,424
	Feminino	4,26	3,79 (-0,70 - 8,30)	0,100	3,95	4,55 (-0,77 - 10,17)	0,073	4,56	2,57 (-5,93 - 11,85)	0,565
Sudeste
	Masculino	9,15	3,76 (-0,61 - 8,34)	0,093	8,47	3,24 (-9,30 - 17,52)	0,49	9,83	4,16 (-3,35 - 12,26)	0,181
	Feminino	2,55	5,37 (4,13 - 7,15)	<0,001	2,26	6,68 (4,10 - 10,76)	<0,001	2,84	3,64 (0,46 - 6,86)	0,015
Centro-Oeste
	Masculino	12,47	5,25 (3,13 - 7,42)	<0,001	11,23	4,35 (0,25 - 8,62)	0,042	13,72	6,46 (0,70 - 12,55)	0,037
	Feminino	3,60	6,18 (-3,33 - 16,6)	0,210	3,28	9,59 (-10,15 - 33,69)	0,366	3,93	3,69 (-5,40 - 13,65)	0,297
Norte
	Masculino	9,18	6,63 (5,19 - 8,08)	<0,001	8,05	7,07 (4,04 - 10,19)	<0,001	10,31	6,29 (4,92 - 7,69)	<0,001
	Feminino	2,65	6,55 (3,67 - 9,51)	<0,001	2,34	5,53 (-0,12 - 11,51)	0,052	2,96	7,92 (0,30 - 16,13)	0,045
Nordeste
	Masculino	9,57	5,00 (1,07 - 9,09)	0,012	8,58	3,72 (-7,60 - 16,43)	0,388	10,56	5,98(-0,70 - 13,11)	0,065
	Feminino	2,25	5,13 (0,05 - 10,47)	0,047	2,01	3,65 (-10,76 - 20,40)	0,501	2,49	6,26 (-2,36 - 15,64)	0,106

População geral	Período total (2016-2023)			Pré pandemia (2016-2019)			Pandemia (2020-2023)
População geral	Taxa	VPA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p	Taxa	VPMA (IC95%)	p
Paraná	8,23	3,95 (-0,59 - 8,70)	0,089	7,3	7,30 (1,65 - 13,26)	0,025	8,96	-0,35 (-8,83 - 8,92)	0,937
Santa Catarina	11,21	3,78 (1,52 - 6,09)	<0,001	10,47	2,53 (-1,75 - 7,01)	0,159	11,96	5,46 (-0,76 - 12,08)	0,068
Rio Grande do Sul	12,32	3,38 (-1,68 - 8,72)	0,194	11,46	4,31 (-1,72 - 10,72)	0,109	13,18	2,16 (-7,65 - 13,02)	0,677

location_on

Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av. Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, 22295-140 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 21) 3873-5510 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: editora@ipub.ufrj.br

rss_feed Acompañe los números de esta revista en su lector de RSS

[TFN1] VPA: variação percentual anual; VPMA: variação percentual média anual.