Perfil epidemiológico dos casos de suicídio no Rio Grande do Sul entre 2010 e 2020 envolvendo jovens de 15 a 24 anos

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a major public health problem, especially among young people. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile and analyze the time trend of suicide deaths among young people aged 15-24 years in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, from 2010 to 2020. Methods: An ecological descriptive study was conducted using data from the Mortality Information System (SIM/MS). Suicide deaths (ICD-10: X60-X84) among RS residents (15-24 years) during the period were analyzed according to sociodemographic variables, location, and method. Descriptive analysis and time trend analysis of absolute numbers were performed. Results: 1501 suicides were recorded during the period. A clear predominance of males (80.6%; n=1210) and single individuals (91.1%; n=1368) was observed. The most frequent education level was 8-11 years of study (28.0%), despite a high proportion of ignored data (37.6%). The home was the most frequent location (60.7%; n=911), and hanging/strangulation (73.0%; n=1095) was the main method. The time trend analysis revealed annual fluctuations but with an increasing trend in the number of cases in recent years (2019: n=171; 2020: n=176), representing a 36.4% increase between 2018 and 2020, a period impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The study outlined a consistent risk profile for suicide among young people in RS (males, single, death at home by hanging). These findings are critical and reinforce the need for targeted prevention strategies, including early identification of vulnerabilities, restricting access to lethal means, and promoting psychological support and public policies focused on this population.