According to statistics released by the Coroner's Court of Victoria on Monday,698 Victorians took their own lives between January 1 and December 31 last year. This was 20 fewer suicides than in 2019,when there were 718 deaths. In 2018,717 people died by suicide. There were fewer deaths by suicide in 2016 and 2017,with 653 and 694 fatalities respectively.
Of the 698 Victorians who died from suicide in 2020,520 were men and 178 were women,according to the coronial data. Most were aged between 25 and 54.
There were concerns the number of suicides would surge during the COVID-19 pandemic,with modelling from the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre predicting in May there could be a 25 per cent increase.
Victorian State Coroner Judge John Cain said it was encouraging to see the suicide rate for 2020 was lower than 2019.
"The exceptional work by health workers and those in the mental health sector has most certainly been a contributing factor,"Judge Cain said.
Judge Cain said despite the decrease,the number of suicides in Victoria was still very concerning.
"Almost 700 deaths is far too many,"he said.