A decline in Australian suicide during COVID-19? A reflection on the 2020 cause of death statistics in the context of long-term trends

Abstract

This correspondence considers the overall decline in suicide in 2020 in the context of longer-term sex and age-specific trends over the period 1907–2020. When considering suicide rates from the beginning of the 20th century, the decrease in the total suicide rate from 2019 to 2020 is less noteworthy.