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COVID-19 and suicides in the United States: an early empirical assessment

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  • Gerardo Ruiz Sánchez

    (Trinity College)

Abstract

2017–2020 data from Medical Examiner Offices of 19 large U.S. counties are collected to study how suicides evolved during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. I use these data to obtain three key findings. First, I document that the total number of suicides per month was increasing during the early months of the pandemic but was below previous years’ levels. Second, using a monthly event study design to account for seasonal trends and county-level differences in suicides, I find that during April through August 2020, monthly suicides were between 11.2 and 20.5% lower than previous years. Third, I explore whether school closures during the start of the pandemic might be associated with suicides among school-age individuals, and I find that monthly suicides increased relative to previous years for this age group, with the highest increases during the summer.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerardo Ruiz Sánchez, 2022. "COVID-19 and suicides in the United States: an early empirical assessment," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:2:y:2022:i:7:d:10.1007_s43546-022-00235-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s43546-022-00235-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David M. Cutler & Edward L. Glaeser & Karen E. Norberg, 2001. "Explaining the Rise in Youth Suicide," NBER Chapters, in: Risky Behavior among Youths: An Economic Analysis, pages 219-270, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Suicide; The United States;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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