Suicidal Behavior in the Pays de la Loire Region. 2024 Report.

Published on 10 October 2025

Key Points

In 2024, among the general population, the prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months among those aged 18–79 was estimated at 5.5%. It was 6.2% for reported suicide attempts in a lifetime and 0.2% for reported suicide attempts in the past 12 months.

A slight increase in emergency department visits for self-harm in 2024, with 4,708 visits recorded, representing an activity rate of 6.8 visits per 1,000 (+5% compared to 2023).
The rate of emergency department visits continued to rise among girls aged 11–17, who also had the highest rate of activity (25 per 1,000).

Increase in hospitalizations for self-harm in 2024, with 5,995 hospitalizations recorded, representing a standardized rate of 153 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants.
Continued rise in hospitalization rates among girls and young women aged 11–24, with 760 hospitalizations per 100,000 women aged 11–17 and 468 hospitalizations per 100,000 women aged 18–24, significantly higher than in other age groups.
Drug overdose was the cause of hospitalization in 74% of cases, the most common cause regardless of gender.

Suicide deaths remained stable in 2023, with 631 deaths recorded, corresponding to a standardized rate of 16 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (standardized rate of 17 deaths per 100,000 in 2022).
Suicide death rates remain highest among men aged 45–64 and those aged 65 and older, with 40 deaths per 100,000 men in each age group.
Hanging was the most frequently recorded method of suicide on death certificates (62%), regardless of gender.

From June to December 2024, 3114, the national suicide prevention hotline, received 15,663 calls in the Pays de la Loire region.
In 2024, a coordinating center participated in the VigilanS program for follow-up and monitoring to prevent repeat suicide attempts in the region, and 2,586 people were enrolled in the program.

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