Suicide rates decline in Quebec, but some regions remain highly affected

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Quebec is continuing to see an overall decline in suicide rates, though some rural regions are still recording significant numbers.

The portrait of suicidal behaviour in Quebec 2026, published Monday by the Quebec Public Health Institute (INSPQ), indicates that the suicide rate fell from 17.9 to 11.9 suicides per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2023.

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Men remain overrepresented in the statistics, with a suicide rate three times higher than women, at 18.1 suicides per 100,000 people, compared to 5.7 suicides per 100,000 people for women.

There are also marked differences between the regions.

Nunavik, with a population of approximately 14,000, has by far the highest suicide rate: 122.7 suicides per 100,000 people for the period from 2021 to 2023, compared to 12.5 suicides per 100,000 people for the rest of the province.

The suicide rate among men in Nunavik is 178.7 suicides per 100,000 people, compared to 19.1 suicides per 100,000 people among men in the rest of Quebec.

The INSPQ report shows that five other regions have suicide rates significantly higher than the rest of the province: Abitibi-Témiscamingue (22.1 suicides per 100,000 people), Chaudière-Appalaches (16.9 suicides per 100,000 people), Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec (16.6 suicides per 100,000 people), Estrie (15.3 suicides per 100,000 people) and Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean (15.2 suicides per 100,000 people).

Conversely, three regions have significantly lower suicide rates: Laval (6.4 suicides per 100,000 people), Montreal (9.9 suicides per 100,000 people) and the Montérégie (10.3 suicides per 100,000 people).

Overall, in 2023, men aged 50 to 64 were the group with the highest suicide rate, at 28.4 suicides per 100,000 people.

Among women, those aged 35 to 49 had the highest rate, at 8.3 suicides per 100,000 people.

The data also show that in 2024, Quebec recorded more than 3,780 hospitalizations attributable to suicide attempts, corresponding to an adjusted rate of 42.0 per 100,000 people.

The INSPQ notes that, unlike completed suicides, suicide attempts resulting in hospitalization are more frequent among women than men.

Teenage girls aged 15 to 19 have the highest hospitalization rate, and among girls aged 10 to 14, the numbers tripled between 2010 and 2024.

The data used to portray suicidal behaviour in Quebec from 1981 to 2023 comes from the Demographic Events Registry - Death File of the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

For the year 2024, the data come from the Coroner’s Office’s computerized database, updated on Nov. 25, 2025.

Regarding the year 2024, 12 per cent of coroners’ investigations were still ongoing at the time of data extraction, according to the INSPQ, which could lead to an underestimation of the number of suicides for that year.

• If you are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a loved one, support workers are available 24/7 at 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553), by text message (535353) or by chat at suicide.ca.

The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 2, 2026