By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

SUICIDES increased by 33 percent in 2024, while attempted suicides decreased by 38 percent.

According to police statistics released this week, there were eight suicides in 2024, up from six in 2023.

Of these, four men and four women committed suicide. There were five incidents in New Providence, two in Grand Bahama, and one in the Family Islands.

There were 50 attempted suicides in 2024, down from 80 in 2023. The majority of these attempts occurred in New Providence, with 36 reported, 13 in Grand Bahama, and one in the Family Islands.

The Tribune previously reported that the Bahamas Crisis Centre’s hotline saw an increase in calls in 2024 compared to 2023, especially about suicidal thoughts.

Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, the centre’s director, said most callers had been people who were experiencing violence in the home or those who were being abused or under a lot of stress and may have suicidal thoughts.

She observed that awareness of stress and suicide attempts has grown, influenced by media reports on these issues.