Suicide: The Heavy Price We’re Paying for One of the Longest COVID-19 Lockdowns in the World
Commentary
The recent release of the Victorian Coroners Court Monthly Suicide Data Report—December 2022 update provides a reason for concern for all Victorians. It shows that in 2022, the state recorded the highest number of suicides since the court started collecting this data in 2000.
The number of Victorian suicides in 2022 was 756, up nine percent from the previous year.
One very concerning aspect of the report is that the rate of suicides has increased from approximately 58 per month to 65 or more per month from August to December 2022.
The demographic analysis in the report revealed that the suicide rate for those aged 65 or older had increased by 32 percent from 2021 to 2022 and by 53 percent over the last five years. Alarmingly, the number of females over 65 who suicide doubled between 2021 and 2022….