Persons with harmful use of alcohol or drugs are several times higher risk of dying in suicide than others. It shows current knowledge compiled in a new fact sheet from the Public Health Authority.
The most recently updated figures on the number of suicides in Sweden show that 1,328 persons died of suicide in 2023. Of these, 300 died as a result of a deliberate drug and drug poisoning. In a fact sheet, the Public Health Authority has summarized a literature review and meta -analysis on the relationship between suicide and harmful use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco. The results based on 47 Swedish and international scientific studies show that the risk of dying in suicide is almost six times higher among people who have a dependency diagnosis or other indications of harmful use or addiction. In the group, co -morbidity is also common. Many have both dependency diagnoses and other psychiatric conditions such as depression or anxiety syndrome.
̶ In order to reduce the use of harmful substances, broad preventive work is needed. It is also important to have good access to care and adapted support for substance dependence and mental illness so that we can reduce this type of suicide, says Mimmi Eriksson Tinghög, investigator at the Public Health Authority.
Webinar on September 10 about a strengthened suicide prevention work
The fact sheet is published in conjunction with the International Suicide Preventive Day on September 10. The day was launched by WHO to pay attention to the important work to prevent suicide. This year, the Public Health Authority together with the National Board of Health, the National Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP) and Sweden’s Municipalities and Regions (SK) are hosting a digital seminar on the occasion of the suicide prevention day. The webinar is aimed at everyone who works with issues related to suicide prevention, and the focus is on interim target 6 in the new national strategy for mental health and suicide prevention: a strengthened suicide prevention work. Experts from the Public Health Authority, the National Board of Health and Welfare and NASP participate. The seminar is free of charge.
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