Suicide ideation during the COVID-19 outbreak in German university students: Comparison with pre-COVID 19 rates

Abstract

Introduction An increase of suicidal thinking within the COVID-19 pandemic has been postulated. Yet, direct comparisons with pre-COVID-19 rates are missing. Methods The present study investigated whether levels and rates of suicidal ideation have changed between 2016 and 2020. Data of N = 664 university students (five cohorts: 2016: n = 105, 2017: n = 117, 2018: n = 108, 2019: n = 154, 2020: n = 180) were collected by online surveys. Results The rate of students suffering from suicidal ideation was twice as high in 2020 than in previous years. Furthermore, levels of suicidal thinking and of depression were higher in 2020 than in 2019 and 2016. Limitations The sample size of the current study was rather modest and suicide ideation was assessed with a single item only. Conclusions The rate of students suffering from suicidal ideation was twice as high in 2020 than in previous years. Help-lines and online counselling should be promoted to the public and the possibilities of telepsychotherapy for suicidal people should be used and expanded.

COVID-19-related stressors and depression in Chinese adolescents: The effects of life history strategies and gender

“…The sudden outbreak and rapid spread of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that began in December 2019 has put the lives of ordinary people at risk ( Chen et al, 2020 ). In addition to its effects on physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic can also have a range of negative effects on people's mental health ( Brailovskaia et al, 2021 ). Adolescence as a transitional and critical developmental stage, are susceptible to develop mental health problems ( Zhang et al, 2014 ).…”

Suizidales Erleben und Verhalten im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie

“…Mittlerweile mehren sich jedoch Befunde, die auf Basis von längsschnittlichen bzw. wiederkehrenden Querschnittserhebungen (bestenfalls unter Verwendung jeweils identischer Erhebungsmethoden) und mit Blick auf Suizidgedanken zu einem vergleichbaren Ergebnis kommen: Im Rahmen der Bochumer Optimismus-Studien (BOOM), in denen u. a. eine jährliche Erhebung positiver und negativer Gesundheit bei Bochumer Studierenden erfolgt, zeigte sich beispielsweise, dass – im Vergleich zu den Vorjahren – im Herbst 2020 doppelt so viele Studierende angaben, in den vergangenen 12 Monaten unter Suizidgedanken gelitten zu haben: 60 % (2020) vs. 21 % (2016), 23,4 % (2017), 35,2 % (2018) und 26,6 % (2019; [ 32 ]).…”

“…Es muss betont werden, dass die Intensität suizidalen Erlebens in allen Untersuchungsjahren – auch im Jahr 2020 – gering ausgeprägt war [ 32 ]. Raifman et al [ 33 ] verglichen 2 landesweite repräsentative Stichproben von US-Erwachsenen (eine aus den Jahren 2017/18 und eine aus den Monaten März/April 2020) und fanden eine 4-fach höhere Rate an Suizidgedanken zu Pandemiebeginn: 3,4 % vs. 16,3 %.…”

Nightmares mediate the association between traumatic event exposure and suicidal ideation in frontline medical workers exposed to COVID-19

“…COVID-19 pandemic with its rapid spread and high mortality rate has exerted a great negative impact on individual's mental health. Many studies reported that the prevalence of suicidal ideation was increasing significantly in different populations during COVID-19 pandemic ( Brailovskaia et al, 2021 Dubé et al, 2021 ;). Hospital workers are usually confronting with stressful working environments, which makes them at a higher risk of suicide relative to the general population ( Dutheil et al, 2019 Que et al, 2020b ; Schernhammer and Colditz, 2004 ;).…”