5% of the population report having had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months, and 5% report having attempted suicide at some point in their lives

According to the 2024 Public Health France Barometer, 5.2% of adults aged 18 to 79 in mainland France and the overseas departments and regions (excluding Mayotte) reported having had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months (5.6% of women and 4.8% of men), 5.4% reported having attempted suicide at some point in their lives (7.1% of women vs. 3.6% of men) and 0.4% in the year preceding the survey (0.5% of women vs. 0.3% of men). Those aged 18–29 stand out as the most affected group, with prevalence rates of 8.6% for suicidal thoughts, 6.7% for suicide attempts in their lifetime, and 1.0% for those in the past 12 months.

The 2024 edition of the Santé publique France Barometer introduced major changes to the survey methodology (new sampling plan, data collection primarily via the Internet). Consequently, no trends can be established through a direct comparison between the 2024 data and those from 2021.

As a reminder, a sharp increase in suicidal behavior had been observed among 18- to 24-year-olds. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the past year thus rose from 3.3% to 7.2% between 2017 and 2021, and the prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts rose from 6.1% to 9.2% between 2017 and 2021, whereas it had remained stable between 2000 and 2017. In this age group, young women were particularly affected, with rates reaching 9.4% for suicidal thoughts and 12.8% for lifetime suicide attempts.

Beyond the effects of age or gender, our research shows that in 2024, unemployed individuals and, more broadly, those in precarious situations—whether living alone or in single-parent households—are more likely to engage in suicidal behavior.

Emergency room visits for self-harm remained stable in 2024, with high rates among young girls and women

In 2024, 77,041 emergency room visits for self-harm, including suicide attempts and self-mutilation, were recorded in France (mainland France + overseas departments and regions excluding Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica), remaining stable compared to 2023. Emergency room visits for self-harm accounted for 4.5‰ of emergency department activity (stable compared to 2023).

Among visits for self-harm, nearly two out of three involved women. Across all age groups and for both genders, no significant changes were observed over the past three years. Among women, the 11–17 and 18–24 age groups had the highest shares of activity for self-harm (17.8‰ and 14.1‰, respectively). Among men, the 18–24 and 25–44 age groups had the highest rates of activity (5.2‰ and 4.6‰, respectively).

Hospitalizations for self-harm on the rise in 2024, most pronounced among girls and women aged 11–24

The number of hospitalizations for self-harm (HGAI), including suicide attempts and self-mutilation, in France (mainland France + overseas departments and regions) continued to rise in 2024, with 97,302 hospitalizations recorded (+7% compared to 2023). This figure corresponded to a standardized rate of 142 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants (+6% compared to 2023). The observed increase affected both genders (+7% among women and +5% among men).
Nearly two out of three HGAI cases involved women. Among women, the highest rates were observed among those aged 11–17 and 18–24 (674 and 424 hospitalizations per 100,000 women, respectively), significantly higher than in other age groups. Among men, those aged 18–24 and 25–44 had the highest hospitalization rates (166 and 152 hospitalizations per 100,000 men, respectively). Analysis of trends over the past five years indicates a need for increased vigilance regarding young people, whose rate has been rising steadily since the COVID-19 health crisis.

Suicide deaths remained stable in 2023, with excess mortality among men

The number of suicide deaths in France (mainland France + overseas departments and regions) remained relatively stable in 2023, with 8,848 deaths recorded. This figure corresponded to a standardized rate of 13 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (a 4% decrease compared to 2022). Over the past five years, standardized suicide death rates remained generally stable at the national level for both sexes.
Nearly 3 out of 4 deaths involved men. Among men, those aged 65 and older and those aged 45–64 were the age groups with the highest rates (37 and 29 deaths per 100,000 men, respectively). Among women, those aged 45–64 had the highest death rate, followed by those aged 65 and older (10 and 9 deaths per 100,000 women, respectively).

• Access the national and regional reports "Suicidal Behavior: 2024 Report."

More than 3% of 17-year-olds reported having attempted suicide resulting in hospitalization at some point in their lives

In 2022, according to the results of the Escapad survey, 3.3% of 17-year-olds reported having attempted suicide at some point in their lives, resulting in hospitalization. Nearly one in five young people reported having thought about suicide at least once in the 12 months preceding the survey. This phenomenon, which is highly gender-specific, affects girls twice as often as boys (24.0% versus 12.3%).

Suicidal behaviors are strongly associated with a high risk of depression. There is a strong link between suicide attempts and the use of psychoactive substances, particularly the use of illicit substances other than cannabis among boys and daily tobacco use among girls.

A comparison with the previous edition of the survey (2017) reveals a significant increase in suicide attempts requiring hospitalization (from 2.9% to 3.3%) and a sharp increase in suicidal thoughts (from 11.4% in 2017 to 18.0% in 2022).

Suicidal thoughts are five times more common among deaf and hard-of-hearing people

According to the Health Barometer for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (2011–2012), suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months were five times more common among deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals compared to data from the general population in the 2010 Health Barometer (21.3% vs. 3.9%), and lifetime suicide attempts were three times higher for men and twice as high for women. However, unlike the data for the general population, the prevalence of suicidal thoughts within the sample was as high among men (21.9%) as among women (20.7%).

Nearly 4% of the working population report having suicidal thoughts in the past year, with significant variations by industry

In 2017, according to the Santé publique France survey, 3.8% of employed adults reported having had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months (4.5% among women and 3.1% among men). For 45.0% of employed men, work-related reasons were the primary cause cited (34.7% among employed women). For one in five men and one in eight women, work-related reasons were the sole cause cited. Self-employed men were more frequently prone to suicidal thoughts than employees (4.3% versus 2.8%). The prevalence of suicidal thoughts was significantly higher among those with incomes below 1,500 euros per month (7.7% among women and 4.8% among men).

Suicidal thoughts were associated with fear of losing one’s job, having been subjected to verbal threats, humiliation, or intimidation at work, and having experienced a long period of unemployment over the past 12 months.

Prevalence of suicidal thoughts by socio-professional category

No significant difference was observed by gender. However:

• among women, a rising social gradient appeared to exist between managers (3.9%) and female manual workers (5.1%);

• among men, farm operators (3.5%) and artisans, merchants, and business owners (3.6%) were more frequently affected.

Prevalence of suicidal thoughts by industry

Men working in the accommodation and food services (6.8%), arts and entertainment (6.3%), education (5.0%), and human health and social work (4.5%) sectors had the highest prevalence rates. Women working in the arts and entertainment (7.5%), education (7.5%), information and communication (6.8%), and accommodation and food services (6.8%) sectors were the most affected.

A marked excess mortality rate among working farmers

An increased risk of death by suicide has been observed among farmers in several French and international studies. Santé publique France and the Caisse centrale de la mutualité sociale agricole (CCMSA) have partnered to produce regular indicators of suicide mortality among the farming population. The analyses focused on suicide mortality among active farmers from 2007 to 2011 and agricultural workers from 2007 to 2013.

Among farm owners

Male farm owners exhibited excess suicide mortality between 2008 and 2010 compared to the general male population of similar age, particularly among cattle farmers and men aged 45 to 65.

The socio-professional characteristics associated with suicide mortality were:

• being between the ages of 45 and 54 compared to those under 35;

• operating a farm as a sole proprietor compared to operating a farm as a partner in a partnership;

• being a full-time farmer;

• having an utilised agricultural area (UAA) of between 20 and 49 hectares compared to having a UAA of more than 200 hectares;

• and having a farm located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Brittany, and Hauts-de-France, compared to having a farm located in Grand-Est.

Among agricultural employees

Agricultural employees did not exhibit excess suicide mortality compared to the general population. However, certain occupational characteristics were associated with suicide among male agricultural employees:

• work in the sectors of “forestry,” “crops and livestock,” “contracting,” and “cooperatives”;

• employee status;

• working in Brittany, Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Pays de la Loire, Normandy, Grand Est, and Centre-Val-de-Loire.

None of the associations studied were observed for women.