Since March 2020, 213 Quebecers aged 25 or younger have committed suicide, according to Le Journal based on forensic reports. It is even an incomplete census, as investigation files have not yet been published. All suicides are investigated by the coroner’s office.
“It’s really tragic,” laments Karine Gauthier, president of the Coalition of Public Network Psychologists.
That hardship was even deadlier than the streets of Quebec. In comparison, 87 young people under the age of 25 died by suicide in 2021, i.e. 43% more than in road traffic of the same age group (61 deaths).
Although the number of suicides among young people has been stable in recent years, the distress is increasing significantly, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, several stakeholders in the field note. Several recent suicides have highlighted gaps in mental health care.
Additionally, the hospitalization rate for attempted suicide among teenage girls ages 10 to 14 more than doubled between 2008 and 2019, according to a 2022 report by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ).
“What really hurts are the services that don’t come often,” laments child psychiatrist Annie Loiseau in Rimouski.
“We see situations that degenerate into this waiting,” she says of patients when they finally come to her or are admitted to the hospital.
Drug addiction, dropping out of school, social isolation, mental illness: all sorts of problems are mentioned during autopsies. In several cases, acting out was preceded by a recent breakup.
Disturbing Fact: More than half of the 213 victims had known mental health problems or suicidal thoughts. Many young people were well surrounded by their family and friends, but this support was not enough to prevent the fatal gesture.
EJ White – stock.adobe.com
“Despite everything I’ve done, I’m still trying to figure out what else I could have done,” says helpless Christine Lafleur, whose 23-year-old son committed suicide in 2021. I never get over it, but you learn to live with it. »
Society clearly needs to do more, according to a coroner who recently investigated several youth suicides.
“In general, every suicide death could have been prevented,” Me Julie-Kim Godin is firmly convinced.
In several reports we can read that the patient committed suicide in the psychiatric ward within hours or days after being discharged from the hospital. Others had consulted their psychologist or family doctor shortly before the crime. “During a follow-up examination […]When he realizes that M. is not doing well, his psychologist tries to get in touch with his family doctor. Since she is unable to do this, she suggests to family and friends that they urgently consult a doctor. A few days later she learns of his death,” wrote a medical examiner after one death.
In addition, many young people with depression are still reluctant to seek help. Several coroners mentioned unpredictable suicides by loved ones who didn’t expect anything to come.
All stakeholders surveyed agree on one point: improving access to mental health care is essential to prevent these tragedies.
“Of course there is still a lot to do. If everything were done, people would ask for help, they would get help in time, and we would avoid suicides,” believes Me Godin.
213 deaths since the pandemic
The Journal has read and compiled the 213 coroner’s reports on the suicides of young people under the age of 25 in Quebec since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The most recent case is from November 2022, but more are being added to the list due to delays in filing investigative reports. Out of respect for the bereaved, Le Journal has decided not to name the deceased. Here are some excerpts from forensic reports:
Several unanswered calls for help
“Mr X took the first step to feel better: he dared to ask for help. He and his family immediately invested significant time, energy and resources in obtaining support and services for him. […] Unfortunately, it seems like our wider healthcare network and professionals should have avoided Mr. His suicide. »
– Death of a 19-year-old in February 2022
holiday services
“The psychotherapy finally stopped after the summer holidays. No referral to a physician was made and no treatment plan for the management of psychotic symptoms was established […] It is disturbing to see that she was left without treatment or support. »
– Death of a 13-year-old girl in December 2021 after seeing a psychotherapist
Stunned Psychologist
“Mr X was cared for by a psychologist for about two years. His relatives met him in the days after his death. The psychologist was stunned and reportedly reported hidden fears and difficult social contacts. Mister “
– Death of a 21-year-old young man in February 2022
Priority Support
“We had a young man in distress here who was isolating in his room after a crisis that saw him being hospitalized, drinking heavily, making disturbing comments on the phone and on Facebook and no one seems to be doing that. “I helped him directly. “It is difficult to understand that four days after his discharge, when care should be a priority, nothing has been done by social services to revive and help Mr.
– Suicide of a 25-year-old in September 2020
In its usual condition
A 24-year-old victim saw his psychiatrist on January 27, 2021 and took his own life three days later.
“The latter stated that he was in his usual condition, that is, suffering from moderate to severe depression and having passive thoughts of death, with no plan or intention.” The young man had insisted that he “was in control and against was a re-hospitalization”. »
An arranged marriage
A 20-year-old woman from India who had an arranged marriage in her home country committed suicide in August 2020.
She had been living in Canada with student status since 2018 and her husband had moved to Canada the following year. She had no other family or support network in Quebec. She had had several marital conflicts with her husband and threatened suicide. Text messages revealed that she “feels lonely and that her husband was poorly chosen by his family,” the coroner wrote.