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In 2023, there were 3,811 deaths in Canada from suicide. This was a decrease from the year before in which 4,216 people died from suicide. The death rate from suicide in Canada in 2023 was 9.5 per 100,000 population, the lowest rate seen over the past two decades. Warning signs of suicide can include suicidal ideation, withdrawal from family and friends, increased alcohol or drug use, dramatic mood swings, and impulsive or reckless behavior.

Suicide by age

Although suicide is more common among some age groups than others, mental health issues and suicide impact people of all ages. Of the 3,769 suicide deaths recorded in Canada in 2021, 344 were among those aged 30 to 34 years. This was the highest number of suicides among all age groups. However, those aged 50 to 54 years had the highest death rate from suicide at that time with 13.4 deaths per 100,000 population. The age group with the second highest suicide death rate was those aged 30 to 39 years, with a rate of 12.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

The mental health status of Canadians

Most people who resort to suicide suffer from mental health issues, which is one reason why open discussion around mental health and access to mental health treatment are so important. In 2021, almost 12 percent of Canadians stated that their mental health was just fair or poor. The share of Canadians reporting fair or poor mental health has increased in recent years and hit a high in 2021, perhaps in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, almost 10 percent of Canadians now report that they have been diagnosed with a mood disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder, mania, or dysthymia. Depression is one of the most common mental health issues, but is also often easily treated through therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these.