Per 100,000
| ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.7 | |
| 2001 | 11.9 | |
| 2002 | 11.6 | |
| 2003 | 11.9 | |
| 2004 | 11.3 | |
| 2005 | 11.6 | |
| 2006 | 10.8 | |
| 2007 | 11 | |
| 2008 | 11.1 | |
| 2009 | 11.5 |
Canada’s suicide rates have exhibited notable fluctuations between 2000 and 2023, with the age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population generally ranging from 9.5 to 12.4. Starting at 11.7 in 2000, the rate experienced minor ups and downs during the early 2000s, peaking at 11.9 in 2003 before declining slightly in the following years. By 2006, the rate had dropped to a low of 10.8, suggesting some stabilization in the years immediately following, though the overall rate remained relatively high. This period marked a plateau in suicide rates, signaling possible resistance to the effects of various health initiatives or socio-economic factors influencing the population.
From 2007 to 2015, the suicide rate saw a gradual increase, rising from 11.0 in 2007 to a peak of 12.3 in 2015. This upward trend could be attributed to multiple factors, including economic pressures, the mental health crisis, or social factors such as unemployment and rising youth suicides, which have been prevalent in global trends. The mid-2010s period also saw an increasing focus on mental health awareness, which may have highlighted existing issues but failed to curb the rise in suicides immediately. This sharp peak in 2015 suggests that although awareness may have increased, additional structural changes to address the underlying causes of suicide were still needed.
After 2015, there was a noticeable decline in suicide rates, with a drop to 10.3 in 2020, and 9.5 in 2023. This reduction in rates could reflect the growing effectiveness of national mental health campaigns, improved suicide prevention programs, and better access to psychological care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic, while increasing stress and mental health challenges for many, did not immediately drive a significant rise in suicide rates, possibly due to increased efforts to maintain mental health services remotely and increased public dialogue around well-being. The downward trend from 2020 to 2023 suggests that continued support for mental health and more proactive intervention strategies have had a positive impact on mitigating suicides in Canada.
