scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates

QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (10) ◽  
pp. 707-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Sher

Summary Multiple lines of evidence indicate that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profound psychological and social effects. The psychological sequelae of the pandemic will probably persist for months and years to come. Studies indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with distress, anxiety, fear of contagion, depression and insomnia in the general population and among healthcare professionals. Social isolation, anxiety, fear of contagion, uncertainty, chronic stress and economic difficulties may lead to the development or exacerbation of depressive, anxiety, substance use and other psychiatric disorders in vulnerable populations including individuals with pre-existing psychiatric disorders and people who reside in high COVID-19 prevalence areas. Stress-related psychiatric conditions including mood and substance use disorders are associated with suicidal behavior. COVID-19 survivors may also be at elevated suicide risk. The COVID-19 crisis may increase suicide rates during and after the pandemic. Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 crisis including suicidal behavior are likely to be present for a long time and peak later than the actual pandemic. To reduce suicides during the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative to decrease stress, anxiety, fears and loneliness in the general population. There should be traditional and social media campaigns to promote mental health and reduce distress. Active outreach is necessary, especially for people with a history of psychiatric disorders, COVID-19 survivors and older adults. Research studies are needed of how mental health consequences can be mitigated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

1985 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark N. Sanford ◽  
Paul E. Mullen

The impact of unemployment on the physical and mental health of adolescents is one of the critical medical and social issues of our age. This paper reviews recent studies examining the link between youth unemployment and physical and mental ill-health. The evidence suggests that youth unemployment is associated with an increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorder. It is more firmly established that unemployment influences the course and prognosis of those with preexisting psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorder itself can also lead to reduced employability, particularly during periods of economic adversity. Fruitful areas of further study are identified.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S62-S62
Author(s):  
B. Penninx

Stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as depressive and anxiety disorders, have been associated with increased risk of overall mortality as well as with the onset of various aging-related somatic diseases. In addition to unhealthy lifestyles and poorer (self) care, various stress-related physiological processes likely contribute to these detrimental health consequences of psychiatric disorders. Considering the fact that the impact of stress-related disorders is visible on many different somatic health outcomes, it is unlikely that contributing biological systems are very specific. In fact, it is likely that multiple dysregulations of stress systems, including the immune, HPA-axis and autonomic nervous systems, but also various general proteomic or metabolomic pathways are involved. The concept of Allostatic Load (AL) emphasizes the presence of a multi-system physiological dysregulation.In this talk I will summarize what the evidence is for somatic health consequences of psychiatric conditions, with depression as an important example. Subsequently, I will provide an overview of the various stress systems that are dysregulated in depressed patients. In addition, I will provide empirical data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (n = 2981) that illustrate that there is evidence that depressed patients are especially at risk for a dysregulation in multiple physiological stress systems. I will also illustrate how such a state of AL can impact on basis cellular aging indicators like telomere length and epigenetic age.In sum, this talk will highlight the current state-of-evidence for an association between depressions with the onset of many adverse somatic health outcomes, and will provide insight into the contributing role of a multisystem physiological dysregulation.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 490-504
Author(s):  
Peter Fuggle ◽  
Laura Talbot ◽  
James Wheeler ◽  
Jessica Rees ◽  
Emily Ventre ◽  
...  

Adaptive Mentalization Based Integrative Therapy (AMBIT) is a systemic, mentalization based intervention designed for young people with multiple problems including mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of this approach both on clinical and functional outcomes for young people seen by a specialist young people’s substance use service between 2015 and 2018. About 499 cases were seen by the service during this period. Substance use outcomes were obtained for 383 cases using the Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP). Cannabis and alcohol use were the key substance use problems for 81% and 63% respectively. Functional outcomes using the AMBIT Integrative Measure (AIM) were obtained for 100 cases covering domains of daily living, socio-economic context, peer relationships and mental health. At treatment end, cannabis use reduced significantly ( t = 10.78; df = 311; p = .00; Cohen’s d ES.61 as did alcohol use ( t = 6.938; df = 242; p = .000; ES 0.44). Functional improvements were shown in five out of seven domains with highly significant total functional improvements on key problems selected by the client ( t = 14.01; df = 99; p = .000; ES1.34). Measuring functional as well as clinical outcomes appears to reflect more accurately the overall benefit of the service to clients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Daimer ◽  
Lorenz Mihatsch ◽  
Lisa Ronan ◽  
Graham K. Murray ◽  
Franziska Knolle

Studies reported a strong impact on mental health during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March–June, 2020. In this study, we assessed the impact of the pandemic on mental health in general and on schizotypal traits in two independent general population samples of the United Kingdom (May sample N: 239, October sample N: 126; participation at both timepoints: 21) and in two independent general population samples of Germany (May sample N: 543, October sample N: 401; participation at both timepoints: 100) using online surveys. Whereas general psychological symptoms (global symptom index, GSI) and percentage of responders above clinical cut-off for further psychological investigation were higher in the May sample compared to the October sample, schizotypy scores (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire) were higher in the October sample. We investigated potential associations, using general linear regression models (GLM). For schizotypy scores, we found that loneliness, use of drugs, and financial burden were more strongly corrected with schizotypy in the October compared to the May sample. We identified similar associations for GSI, as for schizotypy scores, in the May and October samples. We furthermore found that living in the United Kingdom was related to higher schizotypal scores or GSI. However, individual estimates of the GLM are highly comparable between the two countries. In conclusion, this study shows that while the general psychological impact is lower in the October than the May sample, potentially showing a normative response to an exceptional situation; schizotypy scores are higher at the second timepoint, which may be due to a stronger impact of estimates of loneliness, drug use, and financial burden. The ongoing, exceptional circumstances within this pandemic might increase the risk for developing psychosis in some individuals. The development of general psychological symptoms and schizotypy scores over time requires further attention and investigation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L Currie ◽  
Richard Larouche ◽  
M. L. Voss ◽  
Erin K. Higa ◽  
Rae Spiwak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: COVID-19 has resulted in an increased demand for online mental health services globally. There is emerging evidence for the efficacy for group online interventions that support population-based mental health, but a systematic review is lacking. The primary objective of this rapid systematic review is to summarize the evidence for online group counselling programs for adults. A second objective is to assess, within studies selected for our primary objective, the impact of online group counselling programs that encourage PA on outcomes compared to those that do not.Methods and Design: Randomized controlled trials that assess the impact of online group counselling programs on substance use, mental health, or physical health among community dwelling adults will be searched in MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINHAL, and the Central Register of Controlled Trials. The review will be structured using PRISMA guidelines. Studies will be synthesized using the Cochrane Handbook and Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) reporting guideline. Quality will be evaluated using GRADE. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool; with higher quality studies prioritized when drawing conclusions. The role of sex and gender will be considered as well as possible gender biases at all stages of the review.Discussion: This review will examine the effectiveness of online counselling programs that can be delivered to populations in a group format, and thus in a potentially cost-effective way. Findings will inform the decisions of governments, communities, and health care organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Systematic review registration: The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42020187551).


BJPsych Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Hofvander ◽  
Henrik Anckarsäter ◽  
Märta Wallinius ◽  
Eva Billstedt

BackgroundThe psychiatric health burden of prisoners is substantial. However, there is a lack of high-quality studies of psychiatric disorders among young adults with a high risk of reoffending.AimsTo investigate the lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders and use of mental health services among young male violent offenders and the impact of childhood-onset conduct disorder (COCD).MethodA nationally representative cohort (n = 270, age 18–25) of male offenders was followed back in medical records and clinically assessed by gold standard methods. Lifetime prevalences are presented together with odds ratios (ORs) as risk estimates in relation to COCD.ResultsPrevious use of psychiatric services among the participants was high but their lifetime psychiatric morbidity was even higher, with 93% meeting criteria for at least one Axis I disorder. The COCD group was overrepresented in most clinical categories and carried five times higher odds (OR = 5.1, 95% CI 2.0–12.8) of a psychotic disorder, three times higher odds (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–8.5) of a substance use disorder and two times higher odds of a mood disorder (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.0) or anxiety disorder (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.5).ConclusionsThe mental health burden is substantial among young violent offenders, and COCD is an important indicator of future mental health problems which must be a priority for public health efforts.


Author(s):  
Hans Oh ◽  
Ai Koyanagi ◽  
Jordan DeVylder ◽  
Andrew Stickley

Seasonal allergies have been associated with mental health problems, though the evidence is still emergent, particularly in the United States. We analyzed data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication and the National Latino and Asian American Survey (years 2001–2003). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the relations between lifetime allergies and lifetime psychiatric disorders (each disorder in a separate model), adjusting for socio-demographic variables (including region of residence) and tobacco use. Analyses were also stratified to test for effect modification by race and sex. A history of seasonal allergies was associated with greater odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders, but not alcohol or substance use disorders, after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and tobacco use. The associations between seasonal allergies and mood disorders, substance use disorders, and alcohol use disorders were particularly strong for Latino Americans. The association between seasonal allergies and eating disorders was stronger for men than women. Seasonal allergies are a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. Individuals complaining of seasonal allergies should be screened for early signs of mental health problems and referred to specialized services accordingly.


2021 ◽  
pp. 11-13
Author(s):  
Radhika Gupta ◽  
Deepshikha Deepshikha ◽  
Anjali Chauhan ◽  
Priyanka Priyanka ◽  
Manisha Bhatia ◽  
...  

The pandemic spread by the novel corona virus identied in Wuhan China in the year 2019 has massive hit on every aspect of individual life. Like many other countries India had imposed nationwide complete lockdown on March 2020. Since India was facing Lockdown for the rst time in its history and the stringent measures taken to implement lockdown had effects on all aspect of society including physical as well as mental health of general population. The present study was conducted using online method to know the impact on mental health during COVID 19 pandemic. The prevalence of the anxiety disorder as per GAD 7 was 33.4% among the study participants and 19-30 yrs of age group of participants and females are more affected. People have tried different method to cope with the stress during this period.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document