Suicides rose by 38 percent in 2020

There was a 38 percent increase in suicides in The Bahamas in 2020, with 11 suicides in 2020 compared to eight in 2019, according to statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF).

However, attempted suicides decreased 20 percent, with 45 in 2020, compared to 56 in 2019.

Of the total suicide victims, 10 were men and one was a woman.

While Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said more research is needed to determine the reasons behind the figures, he claimed that a number of incidents were domestic-related.

“What I can tell you is we had a few of those that we know were domestic-related, where fellows are weak and they kill themselves because they were having issues with their females,” he said.

“I can leave that right there because to go further than that would require more research.”

Six of the suicides in 2020 took place on New Providence and five on Grand Bahama, Rolle said.

Four of the victims were between the ages of 31 and 45; four between 46 and 60; two between 18 and 30, and one victim under the age of 18.

More women and girls attempted suicide than men and boys. According to the statistics, 29 women attempted suicide in 2020, while 16 men did.

Forty of the attempted suicides took place on New Providence and five on Grand Bahama, according to Rolle. 

Rolle said the numbers by themselves do not indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the increase in suicides, particularly given that while suicides increase by three incidents, attempted suicides were down by nine incidents.

Shortly after The Bahamas recorded its first case of COVID-19 in March 2020, the country was placed under a state of emergency and various emergency orders were put in place limiting movement, closing various businesses and enforcing social distancing protocols. Many Bahamians lost their jobs, were forced to remain at home and were restricted from visiting the beach, loved ones and friends. 

“We did not have the pandemic in 2019, right?” Rolle said.

“But the numbers were higher. So, without scientific research on it, I can almost tell you that I don’t know…

“One or two of them may have been related to the stress that persons were feeling, but then you would have to look at why persons committed suicide in 2019 and 2018, when I believe numbers were higher.

“So, we are at a disadvantage though because the people are dead and so, they don’t tell us quite why they commit suicide.”

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/suicides-rose-by-38-percent-in-2020/