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Review
. 2025 May 1;15(5):606.
doi: 10.3390/bs15050606.

The Sociology of Suicide After COVID-19: Assessment of the Spanish Case

Enrique Fernández-Vilas  1 , Juan R Coca  1 , Juan José Labora González  2 , Marcos Iglesias Carrera  3
Affiliations
Review

The Sociology of Suicide After COVID-19: Assessment of the Spanish Case

Enrique Fernández-Vilas et al. Behav Sci (Basel). .

Abstract

The phenomenon of suicide has become a significant global concern, claiming over 800,000 lives annually and resulting in millions of suicide attempts worldwide. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, these troubling statistics have worsened, with notable increases in suicidal behavior, especially among vulnerable populations such as the youth, the elderly, and those in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This paper aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in Spain, using a theoretical ex post facto analysis. Spain has witnessed an alarming rise in suicide rates, particularly among young people, and a disturbing trend of increased suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors. While some studies report no significant change in suicide rates during the pandemic, others point to the exacerbating effects of social isolation, economic instability, and public health measures. This study provides an in-depth examination of the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic on mental health in Spain, emphasizing the urgency of the need to address pre-existing inequalities and implement effective suicide prevention measures. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of gender-sensitive strategies and the need for systemic reforms to ensure better mental healthcare access for all segments of society. To achieve this goal, this paper uses a narrative literature review combined with a theoretical ex post facto analysis to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide patterns in Spain.

Keywords: COVID-19; gender differences; mental health; post-pandemic mental health; public health; socioeconomic inequalities; suicide; suicide prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the methodological process, which included combining the NLR with statistical data from official sources. Source: self-made.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Deaths by suicide in Spain according to sex. Evolution from 2020 to 2021. Source: self-made. Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2023).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Deaths by suicide in Spain (2022) in terms of age and sex. Source: self-made. Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2023).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Evolution of deaths by suicide in Spain in 21st century according to sex. Source: self-made. Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2023).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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