Suicide rates in Quebec’s correctional facilities and courthouses have surged in the four years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing a deepening mental health crisis behind bars. According to data obtained through access-to-information requests from the ministère de la Sécurité publique, the number of deaths by suicide in the provincial carceral system rose from an annual average of 6.75 people between 2015 and 2019 to 12 per year between 2020 and 2024—a 78% increase.
This spike in fatalities occurred despite a significant decline in the overall prison population. Average annual admissions in Quebec prisons dropped by approximately 41%, falling from 35,873 during the pre-pandemic period to 21,284 in the years that followed. This inverse relationship suggests that the volatility of the environment, rather than the volume of inmates, is driving the increase in self-harm.
The crisis extends beyond completed suicides. Non-fatal suicide attempts also saw a dramatic climb, rising from an annual average of 38.25 cases before the pandemic to 68.75 cases per year between 2020 and 2024. These figures represent a systemic failure to protect vulnerable individuals within the province’s judicial and correctional infrastructure.
Jean-Claude Bernheim, an expert in criminology and carceral realities, suggests that these trends are not surprising. He notes that the rate of suicide is directly linked to the conditions of detention, indicating that the environment itself can turn into a catalyst for psychological collapse.
The ‘Explosive Cocktail’ of Short-Term Sentencing
The data highlights a specific vulnerability among those serving short-term sentences. A majority of inmates in provincial prisons and courthouse cell blocks serve terms of fewer than 90 days. These individuals are often the most at risk of attempting suicide, according to Bernheim.
The lack of stability and resources for short-term detainees creates a precarious situation. In Quebec, those serving short sentences often lack access to rehabilitative activities, employment opportunities, or educational curricula. When this existing systemic neglect was layered with the extreme isolation imposed by pandemic-era health protocols, it created what Bernheim describes as an “explosive cocktail.”
This trend is not entirely isolated to the prison system, though it is far more acute there. Hugo Fournier, CEO of the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (AQPS), observes a similar, albeit less intense, reversal in the general population. Fournier explains that for 25 years, suicide attempts in Quebec had been gradually decreasing annually, but that trend inverted between 2020 and 2024.
Geographic Hotspots and Systemic Failures
The distribution of these tragedies is not uniform across the province. Certain facilities have emerged as primary sites of distress. Since 2015, the Montreal Detention Center (Bordeaux) has recorded the highest number of completed suicides at 26. In terms of suicide attempts, the Quebec Detention Center (Orsainville) leads with 101 recorded events, followed by Rivière-des-Prairies with 85 and Bordeaux with 72.
| Metric | Pre-Pandemic Avg | Post-Pandemic Avg | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed Suicides | 6.75 | 12 | +78% |
| Suicide Attempts | 38.25 | 68.75 | +80% |
| Annual Admissions | 35,873 | 21,284 | -41% |
The urgency of the situation was underscored in February by coroner Marie-Ève Dagenais in her report on a suicide that occurred two years prior in a cell block at the Victoriaville courthouse. Dagenais recommended several immediate physical and procedural changes, including the removal of horizontal bars from cells, the elimination of camera blind spots, and the appointment of a dedicated officer for continuous surveillance.
Still, experts argue that these measures are merely “crutches.” While physical modifications may prevent a specific method of suicide, they do not address the underlying psychological distress or the systemic conditions that lead a person to despair.
Pathways to Reform
To move beyond superficial fixes, advocates are calling for a fundamental shift in how the province handles low-level offenders. Bernheim points to the Swedish justice system as a viable model, where “day-fines” (jours-amendes) are used as an alternative to short-term incarceration. By reducing the reliance on short-term prison stays, the state could eliminate the most dangerous environment for vulnerable detainees.
Simultaneously, the AQPS is pushing for better diagnostic tools. Hugo Fournier argues that correctional staff need improved resources to identify and flag vulnerable individuals in distress more rapidly, ensuring that mental health interventions occur before a crisis reaches a breaking point.
The broader societal impact is also evident in public health data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec. Emergency room visits for suicide attempts per 100,000 inhabitants have risen steadily from 45.6 in 2020 to 57.9 in 2024, mirroring the instability seen within the prison walls.
Need help for yourself or a loved one?
- Ligne 24/7 de la Vigile: 1-888-315-0007
- Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec: 9-8-8
- Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: aqps.info
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice.
The next critical step for the province involves the implementation of the coroner’s recommendations in Victoriaville and whether the ministère de la Sécurité publique will adopt broader alternatives to short-term sentencing to mitigate the risk of self-harm.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on correctional reform and mental health support in the comments below.
