Disasters, including epidemics, have a characteristic course, both in terms of the
specific events and the human reactions to them. However, it is difficult to predict
whether the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually lead to an increase in suicide rates.
We aimed to provide a general pattern of the change in suicide rates in the countries
linked to the European Union by direct comparison of the years 2019 and 2020 by gender
and age group, grouped according to the predominant religions. Overall, 27 countries
were included in the analysis. Incidence rate ratios and their 95% confidence intervals
were calculated to characterise annual changes in the incidence of suicide deaths.
In almost two-thirds of the countries studied, suicide rates did not increase. The
largest increases were observed in Catholic-majority and ‘mixed’ Catholic-Protestant
countries, but this was significant only for the oldest age group (over 65 years).
This increase was even more marked within some Catholic-majority countries (Hungary,
Ireland, and Spain) during the first months of the pandemic. There was no statistically
significant increase overall in the suicide death rates in Europe. However, the pattern
of suicide rates has changed significantly in some countries, and by age group and
religion, respectively.
