The short-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on suicides in Korea

Kim, Agnus M.

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113632

Cited by 27 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Despite this risk, to the best of our knowledge, there is still limited evidence on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of suicide at the national level by major demographic groups. The findings of a few existing studies suggest that the number of suicide deaths during the pandemic may initially decline 8 or remain largely unchanged, 9 then be followed by an increase, 10 but none of these studies investigated the psychological and economic conditions of groups that have experienced changes in the number of suicide deaths. To address this gap, we examined the suicide deaths and mental health status of the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan using our own monthly survey data, allowing us to closely monitor the status of the general population since the onset of the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Ueda

Nordstrom

Matsubayashi

2021

Journal of Public Health

110

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Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis, but its effect on suicide deaths is little understood. Methods We analyzed data from monthly suicide statistics between January 2017 and October 2020 and from online surveys on mental health filled out by the general population in Japan. Results Compared to the 2017–19 period, the number of suicide deaths during the initial phase of the pandemic was lower than average but exceeded the past trend from July 2020. Female suicides, whose numbers increased by approximately 70% in October 2020 (incidence rate ratio: 1.695, 95% confidence interval: 1.558–1.843), were the main source of this increase. The largest increase was found among young women (less than 40 years of age). Our survey data indicated that the status of young women’s mental health has been deteriorating in recent months and that young female workers were more likely to have experienced a job or income loss than any other group, suggesting adverse economic conditions surrounding them. Conclusions Continuous monitoring of mental health, particularly that of the most vulnerable populations identified in this study, and appropriate suicide prevention efforts are necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Ueda

Nordstrom

Matsubayashi

2021

Journal of Public Health

110

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“…The authors reported that SHD risk did not increase during this period and remained stable in some countries, while rates in other countries decreased compared to expected rates. Other studies observed similarly stable or decreasing SHD rates during COVID-19 relative to pre-COVID-19 periods (Faust et al, 2021;Isumi et al, 2020, Karakasi et al, 2021Kim, 2021;Leske et al, 2021;Li & Mitchell, 2021;Mehlum & Qin, 2021;Olie et al, 2021;Pirkis et al, 2021;Radeloff et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Examining the Association between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Self-Harm Death Counts in Four Canadian Provinces

Isnar¹,

Oremus²

2021

Preprint

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Governments implemented lockdowns and other physical distancing measures to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Resulting unemployment, income loss, poverty, and social isolation, coupled with daily reports of dire news about the COVID-19 pandemic, could serve as catalysts for increased self-harm deaths (SHD). This ecological study examined whether observed SHD counts were higher than predicted SHD counts during the pandemic period in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. The study also explored whether SHD counts during the pandemic were affected by lockdown severity (measured using the lockdown stringency index [LSI]) and COVID-19 case numbers. We utilized publicly available SHD data from January 2018 through November 2020, and employed AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modelling, to predict SHD during the COVID-19 period (March 21 to November 28, 2020). We used Poisson and negative binomial regression to assess ecological associations between the LSI and COVID-19 case numbers, controlling for seasonality, and SHD counts during the COVID-19 period. On average, observed SHD counts were lower than predicted counts during this period (p < 0.05 [except Alberta]). Additionally, LSI and COVID-19 case numbers were not statistically significantly associated with SHD counts.

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“…Given the antecedents of observations in previous crises on their consequences for people's mental health and the increase in suicides [4][5][6][7][8][10][11][12], a similar impact could be expected during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some studies have already shown the negative consequences of this crisis on mental health [2,3,[27][28][29], but there as yet seems to be no evidence for any increase in DBS during the confinement period-rather there seems to be stability [32][33][34] or a decline [35][36][37][38][39][40]-and there are still insufficient data to indicate otherwise. Nonetheless, the possible immediate impact in the months following confinement and the general medium and long term impacts remain to be explored in greater depth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early studies during the first months of the pandemic found no significant increase in DBS. Indeed, while some indicated absence of significant differences in any direction [32][33][34], others found a decrease in suicides during confinement in the first months of the pandemic [35][36][37][38][39][40].…”

Section: Covid-19 Crisismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the same line, research in Japan [35] found a 14% decline during the months of February to June (RR = 0.86; CI: 0.82-0.90) and a 16% increase during the months of July to October (RR = 1.16; CI: 1.11-1.21) relative to the preceding 5 years, although another study in Japan, which compared the period from March to June 2020 with the same period of the preceding 10 years [36], did not find any significant differences, but it did find an overall decrease in cases. Norway [37] and Korea [38] have published DBS statistics for the first months of the pandemic. They both indicate a reduction in DBS compared with previous years, although neither publication included any statistical analysis as to whether the differences were significant.…”

Section: Covid-19 Crisismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Suicide and Health Crisis in Extremadura: Impact of Confinement during COVID-19

2021

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Because of its impact on social well-being, mental health, and financial security, the COVID-19 health crisis may increase the risk of suicide. This study’s objective was to determine what impact the period of confinement might have had on the incidence of deaths by suicide (DBS) in the Extremadura region (Spain). Cases registered in the Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science (IMLyCFs) from January 2015 to December 2020 were collected. Intra- and interannual comparisons were made of the suicide rates in the periods of confinement (March–June) and postconfinement (July–October) of 2020 with those of the preceding 5 years. After seasonally adjusting the data by means of a time series analysis, rate ratios (RRs) were calculated together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). There were no significant differences between the suicide rates of 2020 and the mean of the preceding 5 years (RR = 0.94; CI: 0.56–1.55), and neither did any differences seen in the intra-annual analysis from the period of confinement to postconfinement reach statistical significance (RR = 0.74; CI: 0.45–1.20). It is necessary to strengthen vigilance during and after the crisis and ensure that assistance mechanisms are in place to prevent an increase in suicides.

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The short-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on suicides in Korea

Cited by 27 publications

References 13 publications

Suicide and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Suicide and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Examining the Association between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Self-Harm Death Counts in Four Canadian Provinces

Suicide and Health Crisis in Extremadura: Impact of Confinement during COVID-19

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