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Noda T, Nagaura H, Fujita Y, Tsutsumi T. Cross-sectional study on university students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the influence of adverse and positive childhood experiences. PCN REPORTS : PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES 2024; 3:e235. [PMID: 39157300 PMCID: PMC11327296 DOI: 10.1002/pcn5.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Aim This study examined the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students, focusing on how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) influence mental health. Methods A web-based survey was administered to 3000 university students from October 26 to 31, 2022, following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health assessments included the Japanese version of the Kessler Psychological Distress 6-Item Scale (K6) for depressive/anxiety symptoms, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-J) for distress, fear of COVID-19, and a three-item loneliness scale. Results Of the respondents, 46.9% reported depressive/anxiety symptoms, 55.4% reported distress, and 37.3% reported fear of COVID-19. Factors such as current psychiatric treatment history and reduced income (either parental or personal) were predictive of worsening depressive/anxiety symptoms, distress, and loneliness. ACEs were found to exacerbate depressive/anxiety symptoms and distress, while PCEs mitigated these symptoms, and vice versa. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of considering both ACEs and PCEs in supporting the mental health of university students. PCEs were found to independently prevent mental health deterioration, including depressive/anxiety symptoms and distress, which may include post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, even in the presence of ACEs. Recognizing and fostering PCEs emerged as an effective strategy for mitigating mental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuro Noda
- Higashi Fuse Noda Clinic Higashiosaka Osaka Japan
- Osaka University of Human Science Settsu Osaka Japan
| | - Hiromu Nagaura
- Hokkaido University of Education Asahikawa-City Hokkaido Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Fujita
- University of Human Arts and Sciences Saitama-City Saitama Japan
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Robinson KL, Pretorius C, Blumenthal R, Meyer P. The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Trends in Pretoria, South Africa. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2024; 45:202-209. [PMID: 38833342 DOI: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Suicide is one of the worldwide leading causes of unnatural death. Pretoria is a capital city of South Africa and is the fourth most populated city in South Africa. Between 16 and 22 suicide cases are recorded daily in South Africa.Case files from the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory were reviewed between 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2021, which spanned the COVID-19 pandemic. All cases of possible and probable suicides were included. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson chi 2 tests were conducted to determine statistical significance in the observed trends.A total of 1820 possible and probable suicide cases were identified. The year following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic accounted for the largest number of suicides. White males were the most heavily represented population, followed by Black males. Hanging was the most common method for males, whereas poisoning via ingestion and/or overdose was more commonly used by females.Suicides in Pretoria have increased since previous studies from 9.74% and 10.2% to 13.32%. Methods used have changed among various population groups over the past two decades. This paper examined changes in suicide trends in Pretoria compared to previous studies and highlighted correlations between suicide trends and COVID-19 lockdown measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay-Leigh Robinson
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria
| | - Candice Pretorius
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria
| | - Ryan Blumenthal
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, Prinshof Campus, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Pieter Meyer
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, Prinshof Campus, Pretoria, South Africa
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Moscoso A, Cousien A, Serra G, Erlangsen A, Vila M, Paradžik L, Pires S, Villar F, Bogadi M, da Silva PC, Vicari S, Krantz MF, Delorme R. Pediatric suicide attempts lagged during the COVID-19 pandemic: a European multicenter study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2024; 18:98. [PMID: 39113125 PMCID: PMC11308394 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00784-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated rates of suicidal behavior were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, information is scarce on patients' profiles during this period. Studies evoke the potential adverse effects of the mandatory lockdown, but they remain relatively speculative. METHODS We monitored fluctuations in suicide attempts (SA) in six European countries. We gathered data, retrospectively for under 18-year-old SA episodes (1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021), through records of psychiatric emergency services. We collected clinical profiles individually. We extracted environmental indicators by month, as provided by Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT). We used the Pruned Exact Linear Time (PELT) method to identify breakpoints in SA episodes reported for each country, and logistic regressions to estimate changes in patients' characteristics after the breakpoints. Finally, we used a univariate and multivariate negative binomial model to assess the link between SA and OxCGRT indicators, accounting for the delay (lag) between the interventions and their impact on SA. RESULTS The study comprised 2,833 children and adolescents (mean age = 15.1 years (SD 1.6); M: F sex-ratio = 1:5.4). A significant increase in SA was found either 6 or 10 months after the beginning of the pandemic, varying by country. Patients were more likely to be girls (aOR = 1.77 [1.34; 2.34]) and used SA methods "other than self-poisoning" (aOR = 1.34 [1.05; 1.7]). In the multivariate model, an association was found between SA and the contact tracing indicator with an 11 months delay, and the number of COVID-19 deaths with a 3-months delay. CONCLUSIONS Findings confirmed a delayed increase in SA during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents as well as changes in patients' profiles. The duration and severity of the pandemic emerged as the strongest predictor in the rise of SA. If faced with a similar pandemic in the future, the gap between the onset of pandemic and the increase in suicide attempts presents an opportunity for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Moscoso
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP & Université Paris Cité Paris, 48, Boulevard Sérurier, 75935 Paris Cedex 19, Paris, France.
| | - Anthony Cousien
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, F‑75018, Paris, France
| | - Giulia Serra
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Annette Erlangsen
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Mar Vila
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sandra Pires
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital D. Estefânia, CHLC, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco Villar
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marija Bogadi
- Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Youth, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Mette Falkenberg Krantz
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health- CORE, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Richard Delorme
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP & Université Paris Cité Paris, 48, Boulevard Sérurier, 75935 Paris Cedex 19, Paris, France
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Taniguchi Y, Tamiya N, Iwagami M, Yamagishi K, Miyawaki A, Masuda R, Kihara T, Komiyama J, Tachikawa H, Takahashi H, Iso H. Different trends in suicide rates among foreign residents in Japan and Japanese citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:150. [PMID: 39085890 PMCID: PMC11290109 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02234-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide rates in Japan have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and foreign residents may be more vulnerable to mental stress during such crises. Therefore, we aimed to compare the trends in suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic between foreign residents and Japanese citizens. METHODS Vital statistics of Japan data from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021 were used to calculate quarterly sex-specific suicide rates for foreign residents and Japanese citizens. An event-study analysis was conducted to evaluate whether suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic increased compared to pre-pandemic estimates; foreign residents and Japanese citizens were compared using difference-in-difference-in-differences estimates. RESULTS Between 2016 and 2021, 1,431 foreign residents and 121,610 Japanese citizens died from suicide in Japan. Although the suicide rate for foreign residents was lower than that for Japanese citizens, Korean residents, who comprise approximately half of the foreign decedents, had largely higher suicide rates than Japanese citizens. The event-study analysis indicated that suicide rates increased among foreign residents for both men and women, and continued for men by the end of 2021. In Japanese citizens, after a decline in suicide rates in the second quarter of 2020, suicide rates increased both among men and women, and lasted for women until the fourth quarter of 2021. The difference-in-difference-in-differences analyses confirmed the initial decline in the second quarter of 2020 in suicide rate only in Japanese men and women, and the persistent increase through 2021 in foreign men. CONCLUSIONS We found differential trends in suicide rates between foreign and Japanese men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic featuring a persistent increase in foreign men. Suicide prevention measures should be focused on these high-risk subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Taniguchi
- Department of Health Services Research, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Nanako Tamiya
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
| | - Masao Iwagami
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Kazumasa Yamagishi
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyawaki
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Rie Masuda
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Division of Nursing, Higashigaoka Faculty of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, 2-5-1, Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8558, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kihara
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Jun Komiyama
- Department of Health Services Research, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Tachikawa
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Division of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hideto Takahashi
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, 4-21-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, 164-8530, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Iso
- Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
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Lantos T, Nyári TA. The impact of the first year of COVID-19 pandemic on suicides in a collection of 27 EU-related countries. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17671. [PMID: 39085389 PMCID: PMC11291984 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Disasters, including epidemics, have a characteristic course, both in terms of the specific events and the human reactions to them. However, it is difficult to predict whether the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually lead to an increase in suicide rates. We aimed to provide a general pattern of the change in suicide rates in the countries linked to the European Union by direct comparison of the years 2019 and 2020 by gender and age group, grouped according to the predominant religions. Overall, 27 countries were included in the analysis. Incidence rate ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated to characterise annual changes in the incidence of suicide deaths. In almost two-thirds of the countries studied, suicide rates did not increase. The largest increases were observed in Catholic-majority and 'mixed' Catholic-Protestant countries, but this was significant only for the oldest age group (over 65 years). This increase was even more marked within some Catholic-majority countries (Hungary, Ireland, and Spain) during the first months of the pandemic. There was no statistically significant increase overall in the suicide death rates in Europe. However, the pattern of suicide rates has changed significantly in some countries, and by age group and religion, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Lantos
- Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 9 Korányi Alley, Szeged, 6720, Hungary.
| | - Tibor András Nyári
- Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 9 Korányi Alley, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
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Liu N, Wu S, Guo J. Spillover health losses of COVID-19 in China: evidence from non-COVID-19-related mortality. Public Health 2024; 235:8-14. [PMID: 39033719 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES With the seeming end of the COVID-19 epidemic, international focus is rethinking its spillover consequences, such as on the routine provision and usage of healthcare. This study uses China's national death records to estimate the potential spillover effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality of non-COVID diseases in China, such as chronic diseases and mental disorders. STUDY DESIGN A longitudinal study. METHODS Using the difference-in-difference strategy, our results showed a sizeable increase in total non-COVID deaths and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, mental diseases, and suicide. RESULTS Notably, the deaths from diabetes and suicide increased by 4.60% and 7.08%, respectively, relative to the regions without pandemic cases in the first outbreak and escalated by 3.57% and 5.00%, respectively, when the control group switched to the same period in 2019. CONCLUSIONS These results documented adverse spillover effects of COVID-19 on mortality of non-COVID diseases, suggesting inadequate provision and utilization of regular healthcare. The government and healthcare industry should adopt expedient policies for non-epidemic diseases and reallocate health resources to mitigate future pandemics like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Liu
- School of Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; China Research Center for Government Performance Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - S Wu
- School of Government, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - J Guo
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
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7
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Takaku R, Shobako N, Nakata T. Three years of COVID-19-related school restrictions and mental health of children and adolescents in Japan. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16707. [PMID: 39030262 PMCID: PMC11271618 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67138-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
During the 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese children had to live with strict mitigation measures at school, such as eating school lunches silently and wearing masks during physical exercise classes, even after those mitigation measures have been relaxed worldwide. Excursions and other school events were frequently cancelled, especially in 2020 and 2021. This study conducts a retrospective survey on school experiences to understand how the strict mitigation measures were related to children's mental health and well-being. Results revealed school excursion cancellation to be associated with a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms {odds ratio [OR] 1.543 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.109-2.148]}, and high cancellation rate of other school events to be associated with dissatisfaction in school experience [OR 1.650 (95% CI 1.222-2.228)]. In the subsample analysis, we found that girls and children with no extracurricular activities tended to exhibit depressive symptoms due to the cancellation of school excursions. Overall, the study demonstrated that persistent strict mitigation measures at schools might be a key factor in understanding children's mental health and psychological well-being during a long-lasting pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reo Takaku
- Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi, Tokyo, 186-8601, Japan.
| | - Naohisa Shobako
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 606-8581, Japan
| | - Taisuke Nakata
- Graduate School of Economics, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan
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Ushimoto T, Tanaka K, Kaneto Y, Nakajima K, Inaba H. Association of the COVID-19 pandemic with the incidence of suicidal/self-harm emergencies in Japan: dependence of trend on the regional length of movement restriction. Intern Emerg Med 2024:10.1007/s11739-024-03694-5. [PMID: 38926245 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-024-03694-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Reportedly, coronavirus disease pandemic 2019 (COVID 19) was associated with an increased rate of emergency department visits related to suicide in youth. This study analyzed the influence of the pandemic on the incidence of emergency transportation associated with suicide attempts and self-harm. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used the Nationwide Emergency Medical Services Transportation Database between 2016 and 2021 for main analyses and extended database for resuscitation-attempted out-of-hospital cardiac arrests cases for secondary analyses. RESULTS We analyzed 204,081 cases with suicidal/self-harm emergencies. Compared with corresponding periods of 4 pre-pandemic years, the incidence of suicidal/self-harm emergencies increased after the end of the first nationwide declaration of emergency and remained high in youth (incidence rate ratio; 95% lower/upper interval, 1.29; 1.22-1.37 and 1.33; 1.28-1.39,), particularly in females (1.35; 1.27-1.46 and 1.40; 1.33-1.48) during the remaining pandemic period (Phase I (June 2020 to December 2020) and Phase II (2021), respectively). Compared with other emergencies, suicidal/self-harm emergencies were associated with a much higher proportion of outpatient deaths regardless of the pandemic. Suicidal out-of-hospital cardiac arrests cases were associated with much poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION The incidence of suicidal/self-harm emergency transportation in youth considerably increased during COVID 19 after the end of the first state of emergency declaration in Japan. This pandemic's impact varied among sex and region, appearing most prominently in young females. Rapid accumulation of suicidal/self-harm emergency transportation incidences may serve as an early warning sign for mental health problems and suicidality in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Ushimoto
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Kahoku-Gun, Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan.
| | - Koichi Tanaka
- Department of Emergency Medical Science, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Kaneto
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Kahoku-Gun, Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Kento Nakajima
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Kahoku-Gun, Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
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Gmanyami JM, Quentin W, Lambert O, Jarynowski A, Belik V, Amuasi JH. Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in low-and lower-middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1643. [PMID: 38902661 PMCID: PMC11188207 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19154-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the COVID-19 pandemic claimed a great deal of lives, it is still unclear how it affected mortality in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). This review summarized the available literature on excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in LLMICs, including methods, sources of data, and potential contributing factors that might have influenced excess mortality. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in LLMICs in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Scopus. We included studies published from 2019 onwards with a non-COVID-19 period of at least one year as a comparator. The meta-analysis included studies reporting data on population size, as well as observed and expected deaths. We used the Mantel-Haenszel method to estimate the pooled risk ratio with 95% confidence intervals. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022378267). RESULTS The review covered 29 countries, with 10 countries included in the meta-analysis. The pooled meta-analysis included 1,405,128,717 individuals, for which 2,152,474 deaths were expected, and 3,555,880 deaths were reported. Calculated excess mortality was 100.3 deaths per 100,000 population per year, with an excess risk of death of 1.65 (95% CI: 1.649, 1.655, p < 0.001). The data sources used in the studies included civil registration systems, surveys, public cemeteries, funeral counts, obituary notifications, burial site imaging, and demographic surveillance systems. The primary techniques used to estimate excess mortality were statistical forecast modelling and geospatial analysis. One out of the 24 studies found higher excess mortality in urban settings. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that excess mortality in LLMICs during the pandemic was substantial. However, estimates of excess mortality are uncertain due to relatively poor data. Understanding the drivers of excess mortality, will require more research using various techniques and data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
- German West-African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention, Berlin, Germany.
- Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Wilm Quentin
- German West-African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Health Care Management, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Chair of Planetary & Public Health, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Oscar Lambert
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Andrzej Jarynowski
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vitaly Belik
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - John Humphrey Amuasi
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- German West-African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention, Berlin, Germany
- Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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Okada M, Matsumoto R, Motomura E. Suicide mortality rates in Japan before and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic era. PCN REPORTS : PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES 2024; 3:e188. [PMID: 38868081 PMCID: PMC11114309 DOI: 10.1002/pcn5.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Statistical analyses from Japan reported increasing suicides in 2020, first in the world, proving the severity of the public health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, so far, international suicides have not been shown to be objectively increasing at population level. Followed studies reported the existence of a substantial heterogeneity of suicides among subgroups and time-lag impacts. Against public health crisis in Japan, policymakers, psychiatrists and public health personnel should prioritize improving suicide prevention programs following evidence-based policymaking. Understanding how/what factors relate to the COVID-19 pandemic and what other factors have shaped the increasing suicide numbers since 2020 through objectively well-controlled/fine-grained analyses of high-quality longitudinal/cross-sectional data at the individual, regional, and national levels is important for identifying the reasons for the recent trend. For this purpose, this study examined suicide statistics, statistical analysis methods, and their interpretations. Recent analyses suggest an increased suicide risk among females <50 years and males <30 years in 2020-2022. Notably, time-series analyses revealed that adolescent suicides began increasing before the pandemic, while working-age female suicides sharply increased synchronously with the pandemic outbreak. Causality analyses suggest that social issues facing Japan and recent global psychosocial and socioeconomic transformations are risk factors for suicide in high-risk groups. Finally, this report demonstrates the importance of providing appropriate support based on an objective understanding of individuals who are at risk for suicide, without being bound by traditional established knowledges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Ryusuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Eishi Motomura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
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Alotaibi MR, Alsuwailem IA, Alsultan K, Alwasem KS, AlSaadi ZS, Assiri H, Layqah L, Almubrad J, Gammash N, Al-Qahtani R, Alaqeel M. The Impact of COVID-19 on Suicidal Behavior in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2024; 16:e62057. [PMID: 38989386 PMCID: PMC11235406 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global increase in mental health issues, including suicidal behaviors. This study focuses on assessing the impact of the pandemic on the prevalence and characteristics of suicidal behavior at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 580 patients from January 2017 to December 2022, focusing on those aged 18 and above referred for suicide evaluation. Data were collected via chart reviews and analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 25; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). RESULTS Our study reviewed 580 patient charts, with 555 (95.7%) meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of participants were in the 18-29 age group (66.7%). We observed an increase in the number of cases undergoing suicide attempt assessment post COVID-19, with 296 incidents (53.3%) from March 2020 to December 2022 (about a year and eight months), compared to 259 incidents (46.7%) from January 2017 to March 2020 (over three years). A significant post-pandemic increase was noted in individuals with secondary education or higher (p = 0.004). No significant changes were found in other demographic variables or in the profiles of individuals with an intention to end life before and after the pandemic. CONCLUSION The study highlights the nuanced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behavior in Saudi Arabia, revealing an increased demand for suicide assessments, particularly among educated individuals. However, no corresponding increase was observed in the rate of high-intent suicidal cases or other significant variables. The findings underscore the complexity of factors influencing suicidal behavior during the pandemic and the need for targeted mental health interventions. Future research, ideally supported by a national database, is essential for a comprehensive understanding of suicidal behavior in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Khalid Alsultan
- Adult Mental Health, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, SAU
| | | | - Ziad S AlSaadi
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Hatim Assiri
- Adult Mental Health, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Laila Layqah
- Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Joharah Almubrad
- Psychiatry, Mental Health, Ministry of the National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Noura Gammash
- Psychiatry, Mental Health, Ministry of the National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, SAU
| | | | - Meshal Alaqeel
- Mental Health, Ministry of the National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, SAU
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12
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Pang KY, Siau CS, Ho MC, Ooi PB, Tan YK, Woi PJ, Lai SA, Chan CMH. Fear of detachment from mobile phone: nomophobia and suicidality among Malaysian university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2024; 29:1044-1054. [PMID: 37876137 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2023.2274315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The attachment to mobile devices during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the possibility of increased nomophobia, which is the intense fear of losing access to one's mobile device. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if nomophobia was independently associated with suicidality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among university students in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study had two-time points in data collection: one year before and one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. N = 806 university students aged ≥ 18 years completed an online questionnaire comprising the Nomophobia Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. A multiple logistic regression (controlling for gender, age, and social support) was conducted to determine the association between nomophobia and suicidality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of severe nomophobia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was 15.7% and 35.6% respectively. The level of nomophobia was significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, there were no significant associations. During the pandemic, participants with moderate (aOR 3.09, 95% CI [1.14-8.40], p = .027) and severe (aOR 3.57, 95% CI [1.25-10.20], p = .018) nomophobia had higher odds of suicide plan. During the pandemic, moderate and severe nomophobia were independently associated with more than three times higher odds for a lifetime suicide plan. Our study findings carry implications for the well-being of university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khong Yun Pang
- Department of Psychology, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Ching Sin Siau
- Center for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Meng Chuan Ho
- Department of General Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pei Boon Ooi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Yee Kee Tan
- Center for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pui Juan Woi
- Center for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Samantha Arielle Lai
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Caryn Mei Hsien Chan
- Center for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Wei M, Liu J. Middle school students' psychological health on suicide ideation: based on latent profile analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1390682. [PMID: 38883195 PMCID: PMC11176506 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1390682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study identifies potential categories of mental health for adolescents in different school years and further analyzes the relationship between these categories and suicidal ideation. Methods A total of 1944 middle school students completed SCL-90 and Self-rating Idea of Suicide Scale on November 29, 2022, selecting via a whole-group sampling method. Latent profile analysis was used to analyze the psychological health subtypes of students from a middle school in Southwest China. The R3step method and the DU3step method were conducted to analyze the predictive role of demographic variables and the effects of different profiles on suicidal ideation. Results Different potential categories of psychological health were observed among middle school students. Junior middle school students can be classified into three types: Psychological Health Type (62.3%), Low-risk Type (27.1%) and High-risk Type (10.7%). Senior middle school students can be classified into four types: Psychological Health Type (43.3%), Low-risk Type (33.9%), Medium -risk Type (16.8%), and High-risk Type (6.0%). Gender and subjective family atmosphere are predictors of psychological health, and they also influence the population distribution of psychological health patterns in different sections of middle school students. Girls and students with poor subjective family atmosphere are more prone to experiencing psychological problems. There were significant differences in suicidal ideation among different potential categories of psychological health of different sections middle school students (χ 2 = 1178.71, 1174.85, p<0.001). Among senior high school students classified as High-risk Type, they exhibited the highest score for suicidal ideation. Conclusion There is obvious group heterogeneity in psychological health of different sections middle school students. Older students are more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiting Wei
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
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14
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Shibata T, Yamaoka Y, Nawa N, Nishimura H, Koyama Y, Kuramochi J, Fujiwara T. Association of lifestyle and flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1341711. [PMID: 38873516 PMCID: PMC11172671 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1341711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction COVID-19 have changed our lifestyle and little is known how our lifestyle associated with flourishing during COVID-19. This study examined the association between lifestyle, including sleep time, drinking, and smoking, and flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Methods We used the population-based study, Utsunomiya COVID-19 seROprevalence Neighborhood Association (U-CORONA) survey conducted in November 2021 to examine the association between lifestyle such as sleeping time, drinking and smoking, and flourishing (n = 473). Flourishing was assessed with the flourishing index, a 10-item multidimensional scale with five domains. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed adjusted for sex, age, income, and education. Results We found that the flourishing index was significantly lower in the group that slept less than 6 h than in the group that slept 6-8 h (coef = -0.49, SE = 0.17, p < 0.01). We also found that drinking once to several times/week showed higher flourishing than those who almost never drink (coef = 0.57, SE = 0.19, p < 0.01). Smoking was not associated with flourishing. Discussion Sleep duration and drinking habit, but not smoking, may be important for flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyoshi Shibata
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yui Yamaoka
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobutoshi Nawa
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hisaaki Nishimura
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuna Koyama
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jin Kuramochi
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Interpark Kuramochi Clinic, Utsunomiya, Japan
| | - Takeo Fujiwara
- Department of Public Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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Hamdan S, Guz T, Zalsman G. The Clinical Sequelae of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Loneliness, Depression, Excessive Alcohol Use, Social Media Addiction, and Risk for Suicide Ideation. Arch Suicide Res 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38756019 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2024.2345170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression, loneliness, and alcohol use disorder are associated with suicide ideation. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our social structures with social distancing and isolation policies implemented worldwide, severely restricting social interactions. Studies regarding the effects of the pandemic are starting to shed light on the harmful psychological effects of these policies. AIMS This study aims to identify whether the increase in suicidal ideation among college students (mostly young adults) during the pandemic was due to the known risk factors of loneliness, depression, alcohol use disorder, social media addiction, and other background variables. METHOD Nine hundred and eleven college students completed self-report questionnaires assessing suicidal risk, depressive symptoms, loneliness, excessive alcohol use, and social media use. RESULTS During the pandemic suicidal ideation was associated with loneliness (χ2 = 54.65, p < 0.001), depressive symptoms (χ2 = 110.82, p < 0.001), alcohol use disorder (χ2 = 10.02, P < 0.01) and social media addiction (χ2 = 13.73, P < 0.001). Being single [OR = 2.55; p < 0.01], and self-identifying as a non-heterosexual [OR = 2.55; p < 0.01] were found to constitute additional risk factors. LIMITATIONS The structural nature of quantitative self-report scales does not offer the flexibility of gaining a deeper understanding of causes, specific to particular circumstances that may lead participants to ideate on suicide, even briefly. CONCLUSIONS Social distancing and isolation policies during the COVID-19 pandemic constitute an additional factor in the risk for suicide ideation.
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Hu X, Yuan D, Zeng Y, Guo C. Impact of the First-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Expenditure for Older Adults in China: Lessons from a Natural Experiment. J Aging Soc Policy 2024:1-21. [PMID: 38734975 DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2024.2348967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Older adults' access to healthcare services may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the effect of the first wave pandemic on the medical expenditure of older adults in China. Difference-in-Difference models captured both temporal and geographical variation in COVID-19 exposure to estimate the impacts of the pandemic on medical expenditure through a quasi-natural experiment. Data derived from the China Family Panel Studies. Results indicate that exposure to the pandemic significantly decreased total medical expenditures, hospital expenditures, and non-hospital medical expenditures of Chinese older adults by 15% (95% CI 12%-17%), 5% (95% CI 2%-7%), and 15% (95% CI 13%-16%), respectively, for each standardized severity increment. Females, less well-educated people, and individuals without internet access were most susceptible to experiencing these reductions. This study revealed that COVID-19 exerted a detrimental influence on the medical expenditure of older adults in mainland China. The "hidden epidemic" of non-COVID-19 medical needs of older adults deserves more attention on the part of policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Hu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dianqi Yuan
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyu Zeng
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Guo
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- APEC Health Science Academy (HeSAY), Peking University, Beijing, China
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17
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Kursner S, Studer J, Fracasso T, Weber G, Michaud L. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Unassisted Suicide and Assisted Suicide Rates in French-Speaking Switzerland: Differences by Gender. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2024:302228241248683. [PMID: 38652705 DOI: 10.1177/00302228241248683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Aims: Most studies on the impact of COVID-19 have shown a decrease or no change in unassisted suicide rates, but effects on assisted suicide have not been studied. We aimed to estimate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and both types of suicide. Methods: Between 2017 and 2021, 1280 assisted suicides and 535 unassisted suicides were recorded in three Swiss cantons. We conducted descriptive and time series analyses on monthly suicide rates, categorized by gender. Results: Among women, a decrease in assisted suicide rates was found during the acute phases of the pandemic. Among men, assisted suicide rates increased gradually from the onset of the pandemic. Regarding unassisted suicide rates, no significant change was observed in women, while in men, there was a decrease, which was larger at the end than at the onset. Conclusions: COVID-19 had contrasting effects on assisted and unassisted men and women suicide rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kursner
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Studer
- Addiction Medicine and North-West Adult Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tony Fracasso
- University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gerrit Weber
- North-West Adult Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Michaud
- Liaison Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospitaland University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Matsumoto R, Motomura E, Okada M. Temporal Fluctuations of Suicide Mortality in Japan from 2009 to 2023 Using Government Databases. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2024; 14:1086-1100. [PMID: 38667826 PMCID: PMC11048886 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe14040071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In Japan, suicide mortalities consistently decreased before the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2009 to 2019) but, conversely, increased after the pandemic outbreak from 2020 to 2022. To provide up-to-date suicide statistics in Japan, this study determined the temporal fluctuations of standardized suicide mortalities (SMRs), disaggregated by sex and age, by joinpoint regression analysis using the government suicide database, named the "Basic Data on Suicide in Region". From January 2009 to December 2023, three temporal fluctuation patterns of SMRs pertaining to working age and older adults were detected, such as attenuations of decreasing trends before the COVID-19 pandemic (from around the mid-2010s), a sharply increasing trend that coincided with the pandemic outbreak, and gradually decreased during the pandemic, but no changes at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the SMRs of working-age females sharply increased concurrently with the pandemic outbreak, whereas those of males did not change. However, before the pandemic, decreasing trends of the SMRs of working-age males diminished in the mid-2010s, but those of females consistently decreased. The SMRs of working-age males indicated non-significant but sharply increasing trends in early 2022, a trend that was not observed for females. In contrast to working-age adults, the SMRs of adolescents already began to increase in the mid-2010s and also indicated consistently increasing trends between the periods during and after the pandemic. These results suggest, contrary to our expectations, that the impacts of both the outbreak and end of the COVID-19 pandemic were limited regarding the increase in SMRs from 2020. Therefore, when revising suicide prevention programs in the post-COVID-19 era, it should be noted that focusing on pandemic-associated factors alone is not sufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Motohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (R.M.); (E.M.)
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19
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Choi Y. Exploring the impact of pandemic fear on visitation to park attractions in urban city: A case study in Seoul, South Korea. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301869. [PMID: 38625971 PMCID: PMC11020851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
This research explores changes in perceptions and utilization of parks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul, South Korea. It investigates the relationship between fear of the pandemic and individuals' opinions about open spaces and their visiting decisions. The study surveyed 600 adults from February 22-23, 2022, and used structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The findings revealed that increased fear of the pandemic led to more positive park sentiments, resulting in higher park visits and fewer visits to other public spaces. The research highlights the significance of parks during the COVID-19 pandemic and how people's perceptions were influenced by their pandemic-related fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwon Choi
- Climate & Environment Data Center, Gyeonggi Research Institute, Jangan-gu, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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20
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Yamasaki L, Kamada T, Ng CFS, Takane Y, Nakajima K, Yamaguchi K, Oka K, Honda Y, Kim Y, Hashizume M. Heat-related mortality and ambulance transport after a power outage in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Environ Epidemiol 2024; 8:e292. [PMID: 38617431 PMCID: PMC11008645 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Air conditioners can prevent heat-related illness and mortality, but the increased use of air conditioners may enhance susceptibility to heat-related illnesses during large-scale power failures. Here, we examined the risks of heat-related illness ambulance transport (HIAT) and mortality associated with typhoon-related electricity reduction (ER) in the summer months in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Methods We conducted event study analyses to compare temperature-HIAT and mortality associations before and after the power outage (July to September 2019). To better understand the role of temperature during the power outage, we then examined whether the temperature-HIAT and mortality associations were modified by different power outage levels (0%, 10%, and 20% ER). We computed the ratios of relative risks to compare the risks associated with various ER values to the risks associated without ER. Results We analyzed the data of 14,912 HIAT cases and 74,064 deaths. Overall, 93,200 power outage cases were observed when the typhoon hit. Event study results showed that the incidence rate ratio was 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42, 2.84) with effects enduring up to 6 days, and 1.11 (95% CI = 1.02, 1.22) for mortality on the first 3 days after the typhoon hit. Comparing 20% to 0% ER, the ratios of relative risks of heat exposure were 2.32 (95% CI = 1.41, 3.82) for HIAT and 0.95 (95% CI = 0.75, 1.22) for mortality. Conclusions A 20% ER was associated with a two-fold greater risk of HIAT because of summer heat during the power outage, but there was little evidence for the association with all-cause mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Yamasaki
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Kamada
- Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chris Fook Sheng Ng
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuya Takane
- Environmental Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ko Nakajima
- Environmental Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuki Yamaguchi
- TEPCO Research Institute, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Oka
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yasushi Honda
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- Department of Global Environmental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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21
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Katsumata Y, Hachisuka H, Sago N, Shimizu Y, Oikawa K, Horii S, Kimata S. Use of Telephone Crisis Hotline by Callers with Suicidality in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Arch Suicide Res 2024; 28:716-721. [PMID: 37038717 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2023.2199807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to clarify changes over time in suicidal tendencies among crisis hotline service users in Japan before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD We analyzed telephone consultation data from January 2017 to June 2021 held by Inochi No Denwa, a leading organization providing a telephone crisis hotline in Japan. The number of monthly consultations by gender and the monthly counts of consultations identified by counselors as suicidal were collected, and we calculated trends over time in the proportion of suicidal calls by month using Joinpoint regression analysis. RESULTS The results indicated that the use of telephone crisis hotlines by suicidal callers increased significantly in Japan during the second wave of the pandemic in June to October 2020. These trends were also observed for both male and female users, although the increase began 1 month earlier for females than for males. CONCLUSION Previous studies reported that mental health deteriorated and suicide risk increased significantly during the second wave of COVID-19 in Japan. These trends are consistent with the present findings, suggesting increased use of the crisis hotline by individuals at high suicide risk.
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22
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Lévy-Bencheton J, Chaste P, Sansen M. Link between neurodevelopmental disorders and suicidal risk in children. L'ENCEPHALE 2024:S0013-7006(24)00042-3. [PMID: 38523026 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Suicide represents a significant public health issue among children and adolescents. However, in this population, while the literature seems to support a link between suicidal risk and neurodevelopmental disorders, there are still few studies on the subject. The psychopathological description of children who have realized a suicide attempt with a high potential for lethality, which can be defined as "serious", appears to resemble that of children who have died by suicide. This study aimed to characterize the dimensional aspects of the neurodevelopmental profile of a population of children and adolescents hospitalized at Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital for a serious suicide attempt. METHODS This is an observational, prospective, and single-center study. Questionnaires for collecting general information and dimensional scales of neurodevelopment (Autism-Tics, ADHD, and Other Comorbidities Inventory, Social Responsiveness Scale, and Conners-3 for parents) were used. This study included 21 patients aged 9 to 15 years at the time of their hospitalization. RESULTS The results supported the presence of at least one neurodevelopmental disorder (autistic traits, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorder, or motor disorder) in 70% (n=14) of the subjects, and at least one behavioral disorder (oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder) in 65% (n=13) of these subjects. CONCLUSION The observed frequency of traits indicative of neurodevelopmental disorders in our population was higher than that observed in the general population, without the presented symptoms being eligible for categorical diagnosis. Considering the dimensional aspects of neurodevelopmental symptoms would therefore enable better identification of children at suicidal risk and more tailored interventions to contribute to the prevention of suicide in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lévy-Bencheton
- Child psychiatry department, Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Pauline Chaste
- Child psychiatry department, Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Mélisande Sansen
- Child psychiatry department, Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, 75015 Paris, France
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Aikebaier S. COVID-19, new challenges to human safety: a global review. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1371238. [PMID: 38550317 PMCID: PMC10972861 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1371238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
In the context of sustainable human development, human safety has gradually shifted from traditional state and political conflict to social conflict and horizontal inequality, and the pandemic has exacerbated this variation risk. This narrative review includes literature from 40 countries on five continents since 2020, explored and tidy up the impacts of pandemics on human safety based on three perspectives: personal safety, family safety and social safety, refined the macroscopic concept of human safety. The comprehensibility of the global review conclusions is enhanced by combining it with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Finally, some novel and comparative results are included to broaden the understanding of the impact of the pandemic, and help policymaker better understand human safety changes from a new perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saierdaer Aikebaier
- Department of Public Administration, School of Public Affairs, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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Juárez-Domínguez DA, Arteaga-Contreras KM, Rangel HC. Suicide Attempt Violence: Gender Differences, Diagnosis and Psychiatric Care Seeking in Mexico City. CONSORTIUM PSYCHIATRICUM 2024; 5:5-12. [PMID: 39023109 PMCID: PMC11249396 DOI: 10.17816/cp13457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide cases in Mexico have increased during the last two years and are the second-leading cause of death in the young adult population. AIM To describe gender differences in violent suicide attempts as relates to diagnosis and the seeking of psychiatric care. METHODS A descriptive retrospective study was conducted. The referral forms of 241 patients who had attempted suicide were analyzed. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 29.1 (SD=10.8) years, n=140 (58.1%) of the sample were women. Affective disorders were the most frequent diagnoses for both sexes. Women were more likely to delay seeking psychiatric care: 60 days versus 30 days of delay for men (p=0.009). Men were shown to more frequently resort to violent suicide methods. Both women and men who used violent suicide methods were shown to delay by more days the seeking of psychiatric care than those who were found to have used non-violent suicide methods. CONCLUSION We found that patients who use more violent methods of suicide took longer before seeking psychiatric care. This delay in accessing psychiatric care can be thought to contribute to the fact that completed suicides are more frequent within that category of patients. The majority of suicide attempts occurred in the 17-24 years age group; therefore, it seems reasonable to analyze the existing barriers to seeking psychiatric care, mainly in the young adult population, and to design strategies to bring mental health services closer to this population group.
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Morishima R, Kanehara A, Aizawa T, Okada N, Usui K, Noguchi H, Kasai K. Long-Term Trends and Sociodemographic Inequalities of Emotional/Behavioral Problems and Poor Help-Seeking in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Adolesc Health 2024; 74:537-544. [PMID: 37966408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE During the first 3 years of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we investigated the long-term trends of emotional/behavioral problems and poor help-seeking behavior in adolescents and examined the sociodemographic inequalities in these trends. METHODS A multiwave cross-sectional survey was conducted in Japan from October-November 2020, June-July 2021, and June-July 2022 using an anonymous questionnaire. Trends of emotional/behavioral problems (e.g., emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, and total difficulties) and poor help-seeking were tested using a chi-squared test with Bonferroni correction. The effects of sociodemographic factors (grade, gender, country of origin, and number of parents) on emotional/behavioral problems and poor help-seeking were examined by two mixed-effect logistic regression models: (1) with fixed effects for years and sociodemographic factors and (2) stratified by years if the interaction terms between years and each sociodemographic factor were significant. RESULTS The prevalence of total difficulties and emotional symptoms was the highest in 2021. The number of adolescents reporting hyperactivity/inattention and poor help-seeking increased between 2020 and 2021 and remained high in 2022. Inequalities in emotional/behavioral problems and poor help-seeking behavior were found with respect to all sociodemographic factors. DISCUSSION Despite the persistent emotional/behavioral problems, the results suggested that the number of adolescents who were unable to seek help increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, heterogeneities in the trends with respect to grade, gender, country of origin, and number of parents were detected. Prioritized supports targeting those with sociodemographic disadvantages may be needed to mitigate these inequalities in response to the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Morishima
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Kawamura Gakuen Woman's University, Chiba, Japan; Waseda Institute of Social & Human Capital Studies (WISH), Tokyo, Japan; The Health Care Science Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Akiko Kanehara
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Aizawa
- Graduate School of Economics and Business, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Usui
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Community Mental Health and Law, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruko Noguchi
- Waseda Institute of Social & Human Capital Studies (WISH), Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Papsdorf R, Genuneit J, White LO, Radeloff DM. [Suicides among children, adolescents, and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic - An analysis of police data from three German federal states]. PSYCHIATRISCHE PRAXIS 2024; 51:79-83. [PMID: 37813365 DOI: 10.1055/a-2171-4889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected young people, resulting in increased psychological distress and rising prevalence rates for mental disorders. There is concern that completed suicides have increased in addition to the observed increase in suicide attempts. METHOD The study is based on the police crime statistics (01/2017 to 12/2022) of three federal states in Germany, representing 13% of Germany's overall population. Suicide counts and rates for the child, teenage, adolescent, and young adult age groups were compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods using chi-squared tests. RESULTS 860 people under age 30 died from suicide. Suicide rates did not differ between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in any of the age groups studied. CONCLUSION So far, there has been no discernible increase in suicides among young Germans. Ongoing suicide monitoring is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Papsdorf
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universität, Leipzig
| | - Jon Genuneit
- Pädiatrische Epidemiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
| | - Lars Otto White
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universität, Leipzig
| | - Daniel Matthias Radeloff
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universität, Leipzig
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27
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Biese KM, McGuine TA, Haraldsdottir K, Reardon C, Watson AM. The Influence of Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Physical Activity on the Mental Health Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19. Sports Health 2024; 16:195-203. [PMID: 38246900 PMCID: PMC10916784 DOI: 10.1177/19417381231223494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare the benefits of sport participation with no sport participation during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the moderating effects of race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and physical activity (PA) on mental health in adolescent athletes. HYPOTHESIS Sport participation would be associated with greater improvements in mental health for athletes from racial and ethnic minority and lower SES groups compared with White and high SES groups. PA would mediate <30% of the mental health benefits of sport participation. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 4. METHODS In May 2021, adolescent athletes completed an online survey (demographics, sport participation, measures of anxiety and depression, PA). Participants were classified as those who played sports (PLY) and those who did not (DNP). Mental health symptoms for the PLY and DNP groups were compared via analysis of variance models that controlled for demographic variables. Moderating analyses assessed the interaction of sport participation status by (1) race and ethnicity (White/non-White) and (2) SES (high/low) with mental health. Mediation analyses assessed the degree that PA scores explained the differences in anxiety and depression between the 2 groups. RESULTS Participants included 4874 adolescent athletes (52% female; age, 16.1 ± 1.3 years; PLY, 91%). Athletes who returned to sport from racial minority groups and low SES had greater decreases in anxiety (race and ethnicity: interaction estimate (b) = -1.18 ± 0.6, P = 0.04; SES, b = -1.23 ± 0.5, P = 0.02), and depression (race and ethnicity: b = -1.19 ± 0.6, P = 0.05; SES, b = -1.21 ± 0.6, P = 0.03) compared with White and high SES athletes, respectively. PA explained 24% of anxiety (P < 0.01) and 20% of depression scores (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Athletes who identify as a racial or ethnic minority and from areas of lower household income experienced disproportionately greater negative mental health impacts from sport restrictions during COVID-19. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Improving access to sports in traditionally underserved areas may have significant mental health impact for adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Biese
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
| | - Timothy A McGuine
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kristin Haraldsdottir
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Claudia Reardon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Andrew M Watson
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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Tabaac BJ, Shinozuka K, Arenas A, Beutler BD, Cherian K, Evans VD, Fasano C, Muir OS. Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians-Historical Perspective and Overview. Am J Ther 2024; 31:e97-e103. [PMID: 38518266 DOI: 10.1097/mjt.0000000000001727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychedelic drugs have recently emerged as plausibly effective pharmacological agents for the management of depression, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric conditions, including those that are treatment-resistent. The latter half of the 20th century marked a revolution in the treatment of mental illnesses, exemplified by the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other pharmacological agents. Nevertheless, mental illness remains a major public health crisis, affecting nearly one billion individuals worldwide. AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY Because of the decades-long status of several psychedelics as Schedule I drugs, there have not been very many large, double-blind, randomized controlled trials of psychedelics. Owing to small sample sizes, there may be rare yet serious adverse events that have not been reported in the clinical trials thus far. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES Esketamine, a dissociative hallucinogen drug, was approved for the management of major depressive disorder by the Food and Drug Administration in 2019. As of January 2024, two Phase III trials of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic drug that inhibits the serotonin transporter, have been completed; the results indicate that MDMA is superior to existing pharmacological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. A phase III trial of psilocybin, a naturally occurring serotonin receptor partial agonist, is currently underway. The following series details the current state of research in psychedelic therapeutics, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N-N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and ayahuasca, psilocybin, ibogaine, MDMA, and ketamine. LIMITATIONS While initial clinical trials of psychedelics for depression were very promising, trials of psilocybin with larger sample sizes (100+ participants) suggest that its remission rate is 25%-29%. This is about the same as the remission rate of antidepressants, which is roughly 30% according to the landmark STAR*D trial. CONCLUSIONS Psychedelic drugs and structural derivatives offer a great deal of promise for the management of a wide range of psychiatric morbidities. It is imperative that clinicians become familiar with these novel agents and learn how to integrate psychedelic therapy with the rest of their care through open communication and referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burton J Tabaac
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV
- Department of Neurology, Carson Tahoe Health, Carson City, NV
| | - Kenneth Shinozuka
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Arenas
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Bryce D Beutler
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kirsten Cherian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Viviana D Evans
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Owen S Muir
- Fermata Health, Brooklyn, NY; and
- Acacia Clinics, Sunnyvale, CA
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Hatori T, Bhandary NP. Extremism, knowledge, and overconfidence in the covid-19 restriction times. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1295807. [PMID: 38362243 PMCID: PMC10867172 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1295807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Public response to restriction policy against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can polarize into two extremes: one absolutely in favor of restrictions for the sake of human life and health, and other absolutely against the restrictions for the sake of human rights and daily life. This study examines psychological nature of extremism regarding individuals' self-restraint from social behavior, which was and has been encouraged by the Japanese government as restriction measures, as well as possible measures to mitigate this extremism. We hypothesize that people with more extreme views on self-restraint tend to have less knowledge of this virus, and, nevertheless, tend to be more overconfident in the sense that they falsely believe they understand COVID-19 and the effects of self-restraint. It is also postulated that overconfidence can be reduced by asking them to explain how self-restraint works. To test these hypotheses, we conducted an online experiment on the Japanese adults (n = 500) to measure the extent of their knowledge of COVID-19 and to examine the effect of explanation task on their understanding regarding COVID-19 and extremism. The results indicate that the extreme attitudes were associated with insufficient knowledge about the symptoms, risks, and characteristics of COVID-19. Moreover, their extreme attitudes tended to moderate through this experimental study to an extent that they realized they did not understand COVID-19 including the effects of self-restraint. This suggests that people with extremism may have been overconfident in their own understanding of the COVID-19 restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Hatori
- Department of Environmental Design, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
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30
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Jung SI, Lee SY, Kim DJ, Yang CM. Risk Factors and Trends in Adolescent's Suicide Attempt Rates Before and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. J Korean Med Sci 2024; 39:e32. [PMID: 38258364 PMCID: PMC10803209 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding adolescents' mental health during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and identifying those most at risk is an urgent public health challenge. This study explored the trend of suicide attempts and the association between loneliness, family financial stress, and suicide attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents. METHODS Data of the 2020 to 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys for adolescents aged 13-18 years were used. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between suicide attempts, family financial stress, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS The trend of suicide attempt rates was lowest in 2020 (1.9%, 1,034 out of 53,534) and it showed an increasing trend with rates of 2.2% (1,159 out of 53,445) in 2021 and 2.5% (1,271 out of 50,455) in 2022. The risk of suicide attempt was higher among adolescents who experienced financial stress (in 2020: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-1.88; in 2021: AOR, 1.63, 95% CI, 1.03-1.54) and felt lonely (in 2020: AOR, 2.19, 95% CI, 1.78-2.70; in 2021: AOR, 2.65, 95% CI, 2.16-3.26; in 2022: AOR, 1.3, 95% CI, 1.04-1.55) than those who did not. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic affected the suicide attempts of adolescents, with financial stress and feelings of loneliness closely linked to this impact. Although the pandemic nears its end, the persistent risk of suicide attempts among adolescents remains a concern. Therefore, it is imperative to implement targeted screening and interventions to address adolescent suicide risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-In Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea
| | - Sang-Yeol Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea
| | - Dae-Jin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Incheon Chamsarang Hospital, Incheon, Korea
| | - Chan-Mo Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
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Aksoy Poyraz C, Uçar Bostan B, Ersungur Çelik EB, Kara Esen B. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on emergency psychiatry department admissions. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36878. [PMID: 38241534 PMCID: PMC10798784 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and lockdown period measures on patients' visits to the psychiatric emergency department (PED) of a University Hospital in İstanbul. We compared the number and characteristics of patients during the initial lockdown with visits in the pre- and post-lockdown months. We also investigated the number of monthly PED visits and hospitalizations between March 11, 2020 and 2021 and compared it to the same period in 2019 and between March 2021 and 2022. PED visits in the initial lockdown period in our university increased by 109% compared to the prelockdown months in the previous year. Anxiety and depressive disorders were responsible for most of this increase. The decline in PED visits was 3.1% and 42% during the first and second year of the pandemic, respectively; however, among the major diagnostic categories, we found that the rates of anxiety, depressive disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder increased significantly in the first year, while psychotic disorders declined and bipolar disorders remained the same. In the second year, there was a trend toward prepandemic year ratios. These findings show that the pandemic affects PED admissions in different ways at different periods. These data may also help shaping the public policies necessary to meet the evolving needs in the field of mental health of society at different public crises in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cana Aksoy Poyraz
- Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Büşra Uçar Bostan
- Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Burcu Ersungur Çelik
- Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Beril Kara Esen
- Department of Public Health, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
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Irigoyen-Otiñano M, Porras-Segovia A, Vega-Sánchez DDL, Arenas-Pijoan L, Agraz-Bota M, Torterolo G, Sánchez-Cazalilla M, Fuentes-Casany D, Adrados-Pérez M, Puigdevall-Ruestes M. Psychiatric Emergencies and Suicide Attempts Before and During COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain. CRISIS 2024; 45:8-17. [PMID: 36637085 DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the mental health of the population. The lockdown period in Spain - from March 14 to June 21, 2020 - was particularly stressful. This study aims to examine the differences in visits to the emergency department for psychiatric reasons before and during the lockdown period in a hospital in the province of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain), which has a catchment area of 431,183 inhabitants. We hope that this study can contribute to the understanding of this difficult period in our recent history and help us to be prepared in case of new social emergencies that may affect the mental health of the general population. Aims: This study aims to examine the differences in ER visits due to psychiatric reasons before and during the COVID-19 lockdown period in a province hospital in Spain. Methods: We compared the n = 1,599 visits to the emergency room and their characteristics before (June 13 to March 13, 2020) and during (March 14 to June 21, 2020) the lockdown period in the province of Lerida, Spain. Data were obtained from the electronic health records. Information collected included sociodemographic variables, reason for consultation, previous diagnosis, and characteristics of suicidal ideation and attempts - including history of previous suicidal behavior, method, days spent in the ER, suicide reattempts at 6-month follow-up. Results: Before lockdown, there were an average of 11.2 psychiatric emergencies per day compared with 9.2 psychiatric emergencies per day during lockdown. Regarding suicidal behavior, before lockdown, there were an average of 0.9 suicide attempts before lockdown compared with 0.7 attempts per day during lockdown. Limitations: Since the data came from the electronic health records, we have relied on the clinical diagnosis made by different psychiatrists. Also, we did not record psychiatric comorbidities, but instead only registered one main Axis I diagnosis and one main Axis II diagnosis. Conclusions: We observed a decrease in the number of visits to the ER in general, as well as a lower frequency of patients with suicidal behavior during the first and only lockdown period in Spain, which occurred during the initial months of the pandemic. This is consistent with previous studies showing a reduction of suicidal behavior during periods of social emergency. However, this decrease could be only temporary, and several authors predict an increase of suicidal behavior in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. Ensuring access to mental healthcare during periods of crisis is crucial for the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Irigoyen-Otiñano
- Psychiatry Service, Santa Maria de Lleida University Hospital, Lleida, Spain
- IRB Lleida, Spain
- Psychiatry Service, Vithas Lérida, Spain
| | | | - Diego de la Vega-Sánchez
- Psychiatry Service, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Seville, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Seville, Spain
| | - Laura Arenas-Pijoan
- Psychiatry Service, Santa Maria de Lleida University Hospital, Lleida, Spain
| | - Marc Agraz-Bota
- Psychiatry Service, Santa Maria de Lleida University Hospital, Lleida, Spain
| | - Giovanni Torterolo
- Psychiatry Service, Santa Maria de Lleida University Hospital, Lleida, Spain
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Cha H, Lee K. Factors affecting depression in adolescents with increased suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurs Health Sci 2023. [PMID: 38151713 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.13075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examines factors influencing depression in adolescents with increased suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on an ecological model and using data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, 2018. We selected adolescents whose suicidal ideation increased between the third and fourth years of the pandemic and who identified their parents as their guardians. Factors related to depression in adolescents were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression, while considering personal and environmental characteristics in the family and school domains. All models were significant, and Model 3 explained 26.8% of the variance. In Model 3, personal characteristics-physical activity, sleep quality on school days, and smartphone dependence-affected adolescents' depression. Parents' life satisfaction and a rejective childrearing attitude were also found to be significant factors affecting adolescents' depression, along with school life satisfaction and school type. Our findings can inform evidence-based nursing interventions to reduce depression in adolescents with increased suicidal ideation. They can also contribute to building strategies to promote mental health in schools after the pandemic, forming healthy life habits, and laying the foundation for lifelong health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosung Cha
- College of Nursing, Eulji University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmi Lee
- College of Nursing, Baekseok University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
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Rivers DJ, Unser-Schutz G, Rudolph N. Vaccine Hesitancy and Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Misinformation in Japanese Youth: The Contribution of Personality Traits and National Identity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 21:42. [PMID: 38248507 PMCID: PMC10815417 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
During the pandemic, the Japanese government drew upon the cultural concept of jishuku, or personal self-constraint, requesting that individuals accept responsibility for their behaviors and consider minimizing the potential negative impact on others. While the jishuku approach to pandemic management rests upon the established and persuasive influence of cultural norms, variability in adherence can be expected according to age. This article documents an investigation into factors impacting vaccine hesitancy and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 misinformation among Japanese youth. The point of departure is the belief that attitudes and behaviors, such as those underpinning the jishuku approach to pandemic management, arise from within a relational framework. Therefore, developmental characteristics, such as personality traits, and in-group affinity attachments, such as facets of national identity, can be expected to function as predictors of health attitudes and behaviors. The tested structural model of hypothesized interactions accounted for 14% of the observed variance in vaccine hesitancy and 20% in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 misinformation. With the inclusion of gender, political ideology, and trust in government SARS-CoV-2 response as control variables, the respecified model increased the amount of variance observed in vaccine hesitancy to 30% and to 25% in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 misinformation. The outcomes are discussed in relation to the communication of coherent public health discourse relative to personality traits and facets of national identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian J. Rivers
- School of Systems Information Science, Future University Hakodate, Hakodate 041-8655, Japan
| | - Giancarla Unser-Schutz
- Department of Interpersonal and Social Psychology, Rissho University, Tokyo 141-8602, Japan;
| | - Nathanael Rudolph
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, Osaka 577-8502, Japan;
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Lloyd KM, Gabard-Durnam L, Beaudry K, De Lisio M, Raine LB, Bernard-Willis Y, Watrous JNH, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Kramer AF, Hillman CH. Cross-sectional analysis reveals COVID-19 pandemic community lockdown was linked to dysregulated cortisol and salivary alpha amylase in children. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1210122. [PMID: 38169630 PMCID: PMC10758420 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1210122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic altered everyday life starting in March 2020. These alterations extended to the lives of children as their normal routines were disrupted by community lockdowns, online learning, limited in-person social contact, increased screen time, and reduced physical activity. Considerable research has investigated the physical health impact of COVID-19 infection, but far fewer studies have investigated the physiological impact of stressful pandemic-related changes to daily life, especially in children. The purpose of this study was to leverage an ongoing clinical trial to investigate physiological consequences associated with chronic stress of pandemic community lockdown on children. As a part of the clinical trial, children provided saliva samples. Saliva samples were analyzed for cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA) content. This secondary cross-sectional analysis included 94 preadolescent children located within the Greater Boston, Massachusetts community. Children participated in the study either before, during, or following the pandemic community lockdown to form three groups for comparison. In response to chronic stress caused by the pandemic community lockdown, participants demonstrated dysregulation of fast-acting catecholamine response of the locus-coeruleus-norepinephrine system and slower-acting glucocorticoid response, resulting in an asymmetrical relationship of hypocortisolism (M = 0.78 ± 0.19 μg/mL, p < 0.001) paired with higher sAA (M = 12.73 ± 4.06 U/mL, p = 0.01). Results suggest that the abrupt COVID-19 disruption to daily life, including the stressful experience of community lockdown, had physiological effects on typically developing children. Further research is required to investigate mental health outcomes of children following the chronic stress of the pandemic community lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Lloyd
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Kayleigh Beaudry
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael De Lisio
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren B. Raine
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ysabeau Bernard-Willis
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Arthur F. Kramer
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- University of Illinois Beckman Institute, Champaign-Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Charles H. Hillman
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
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Jensen-Campbell LA, Liegey Dougall A, Heller AC, Iyer-Eimerbrink P, Bland MK, Hull K. Do Social Support and Loneliness Influence Emerging Adults' Mental Health during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic? Brain Sci 2023; 13:1691. [PMID: 38137139 PMCID: PMC10741457 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Youths' mental health is at a crisis level, with mental health problems doubling in the US since the pandemic began. To compound the mental health crisis, there is a global loneliness epidemic, with emerging adults worldwide experiencing some of the highest rates. One study with two phases examined the influence of social support and loneliness on mental health in US emerging adults during the pandemic, including changes in these relationships over one year. Emerging adults (N = 449) completed online questionnaires via Prolific in May 2020 (Phase 1) and again from January to May 2021 (N = 253; Phase 2). More perceived support was related to reduced loneliness, with family support having the most significant influence. Loneliness mediated the link between perceived support and adverse health outcomes. Higher loneliness predicted more perceived stress and sleep difficulties concurrently and over time. There was a bidirectional relationship between loneliness and depression, such that higher levels of either variable at Time 1 predicted increases in the other over time. Results highlight the detrimental impact of loneliness on emerging adults' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauri A. Jensen-Campbell
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; (A.L.D.); (M.K.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Angela Liegey Dougall
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; (A.L.D.); (M.K.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Abigail C. Heller
- Department of Psychology, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA;
| | - Priya Iyer-Eimerbrink
- Department of Psychology, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75241, USA;
| | - Michelle K. Bland
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; (A.L.D.); (M.K.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Kristen Hull
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; (A.L.D.); (M.K.B.); (K.H.)
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Elhawary AE, Lashin HI, Fnoon NF, Sagah GA. Evaluation of the rate and pattern of suicide attempts and deaths by self-poisoning among Egyptians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2023; 12:1113-1125. [PMID: 38145090 PMCID: PMC10734599 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Concerns about increased suicidal attempts, especially by self-poisoning as a consequence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been raised worldwide. Aim of the study This study aimed to evaluate the rate and pattern of suicide attempts and deaths by self-poisoning among patients admitted to Tanta University Poisoning Control Center one year before and following COVID-19 pandemic declaration in Egypt. It was conducted on the medical records of 3,200 poisoned patients, from March 2019 to February 2021. Demographic, toxicological data and patients' outcomes were collected. Results During the pandemic year, 63.8% of total admitted patients alleged suicidal self-poisoning. Adults significantly decreased from 59% to 52.3%, while adolescents significantly increased from 34.6% to 41.7%. Monthly numbers of admitted suicidal self-poisoned patients significantly decreased during the lockdown but significantly increased from 7% to 26.5%, during the peak of the second wave of the pandemic as well as suicidal deaths (increased from 1.9% to 21.2%). Suicidal self-poisoning in females increased late in the pandemic year and suicidal self-poisoning deaths were significantly reported from rural areas (P = 0.025). The delay time was significantly longer, length of hospital stay was significantly shorter, intensive care unit admission rates and suicidal deaths were significantly increased during the pandemic year (P < 0.001, 0.026, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Phosphides were the most commonly used poison for committing suicide and suicidal deaths during this year. Conclusion Psychological support should be directed to females and adolescents, especially from rural areas in Egypt to help reduce suicidal attempts and deaths by self-poisoning during any future pandemics and lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Elsayed Elhawary
- Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, 6 floor, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Medical Campus, Al‑Geish Street, Tanta, Gharbia 31527, Egypt
| | - Heba Ibrahim Lashin
- Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, 6 floor, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Medical Campus, Al‑Geish Street, Tanta, Gharbia 31527, Egypt
| | - Noha Fawzy Fnoon
- Neuropsychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Medical Campus, Al‑Geish Street, Tanta, Gharbia 31527, Egypt
| | - Ghada Attia Sagah
- Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, 6 floor, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Medical Campus, Al‑Geish Street, Tanta, Gharbia 31527, Egypt
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Su Y(J, Zhou D. The impact of COVID-19 on physical and mental health: A longitudinal study. SSM Popul Health 2023; 24:101538. [PMID: 37916185 PMCID: PMC10616548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we exploit variation in COVID-19 infections and deaths across Chinese cities to identify the health impacts of COVID-19 based on longitudinal data at the individual level. Our paper provides empirical evidence of the immediate impact of COVID-19 on both physical and mental health. Utilizing a difference-in-differences methodology and focusing on changes in within-individual health condition between pre-COVID-19 and the early stages of COVID-19, we find robust evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse effect on self-perceived health condition, chronic illness, sleep, and depression. Our findings are robust to alternative constructions of cities' exposure to COVID-19, to the exclusion of Wuhan city, which was hit the hardest and had experienced the most stringent lockdowns. Furthermore, accounting for the impact of COVID-19 policies, our results indicate that the decline in physical health can be attributed to the shock of the pandemic, while emotional health is mainly affected by anti-contagion policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqin (Joyce) Su
- Center for Economics, Finance and Management Studies (CEFMS), Hunan University, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of Cultural Industries and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
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Anderes M, Pichler S. Mental health effects of social distancing in Switzerland. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2023; 51:101302. [PMID: 37659211 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
This analysis examines the effect of COVID-19 on public mental health in Switzerland. Following an event-study framework, we compare helpline call volume and duration before and after the outbreak of the first and second wave. The use of administrative phone-level data allows us to i) decompose the total effects into an intensive and extensive margin and ii) calculate a measure of unmet need. For the first wave, our results show that callers with a history of helpline contacts increase calls substantially. We also identify capacity constraints leading to unmet need for psychological counseling. Finally, we find no effects in the second wave, which might be explained by a number of factors including the absence of a lockdown and less restrictive social distancing measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Anderes
- ETH Zurich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Pichler
- University of Groningen, Department of Economics, Econometrics and Finance, Nettelbosje 2, 9747AE, Groningen, Netherlands.
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Gunawardena SA, Dassanayake N, Keerawelle BI, Kanthasamy S, Ranganatha H, Gunawardana JW. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trends and characteristics of natural and unnatural deaths in an urban Sri Lankan cohort viewed through retrospective analysis of forensic death investigations from 2019 to 2022. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2023; 14:468-482. [PMID: 38204426 PMCID: PMC10788415 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a severe impact on global health. Apart from the disease itself, the strict restrictions and lockdowns enforced to minimize its spread have also substantially disrupted personal and public health. METHODS An analysis of forensic autopsy investigations was conducted between 2019 and 2022 on a selected urban population in Colombo, Sri Lanka, assessing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality within these communities. RESULTS During the COVID-19 restrictions, there was a 2.5-fold increase in the total number of deaths, with a significantly higher percentage of female deaths than before. The majority of these deaths were due to cardiovascular causes, while COVID-19-related deaths ranked third overall. The highest proportion of COVID-19 deaths occurred among unvaccinated females. The monthly frequency of deaths from traffic accidents, poisoning, and asphyxiation decreased, while deaths from blunt trauma, sharp trauma, burns, and immersion increased. There was also a rise in blunt homicides and a greater number of femicides during the COVID-19 restrictions than in the pre-pandemic period. A significantly higher percentage of males who received the COVID-19 vaccine died from cardiovascular causes compared to those in the unvaccinated group. CONCLUSION The significant changes in mortality demographics and causes of death within this community during the COVID-19 restrictions underscore the disruption in healthcare, healthseeking behavior, and social interactions during this period. The vulnerability of individuals residing in highly urbanized areas with lower socioeconomic status, particularly women, is brought into sharp focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameera Anuruddha Gunawardena
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nishani Dassanayake
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Shivasankarie Kanthasamy
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Hasini Ranganatha
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Jayani Wathsala Gunawardana
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Matsumoto R, Motomura E, Onitsuka T, Okada M. Trends in Suicidal Mortality and Motives among Working-Ages Individuals in Japan during 2007-2022. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:2795-2810. [PMID: 38131892 PMCID: PMC10742659 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13120193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicides in Japan consistently decreased from 2009-2019, but increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. To identify causes of increasing suicides, age-dependent and temporal fluctuations of suicide mortality rate per 100,000 (SMRP) in working-age generations (20-59 years) disaggregated by suicidal motives (7-categories; 52-subcategories) and sex from 2007 to 2022, were analyzed by analysis of variance and joinpoint regression, respectively, using the government suicide database "Suicide Statistics". The SMRP of 20-29 year-old males and 20-49 year-old females began to increase in the late 2010s. SMRPs of these high-risk groups for suicides caused by depression (the leading suicidal motive for all groups) began increasing in the late 2010s. Economic-related, employment-related, and romance-related problems contributed to the increasing SMRPs in 20-29 males in the late 2010s. Romance-related and family-related problems contributed to the increasing SMRPs of 20-29 females in the late 2010s. Increasing SMRPs caused by child-raising stress in 20-39 year-old females from the late 2010s was a remarkable finding. In contrast, SMRPs of 30-59 year-old males consistently decreased until 2021; however, in these groups, SMRPs for suicides caused by various motives sharply increased in 2022. The consistent increase in SMRPs of high-risk groups from the late 2010s to the pandemic suggest recent socioeconomic and psychosocial problems in Japan possibly contributed to the increasing SMRPs in these high-risk groups independently of pandemic-associated factors, whereas the SMRPs of males of 30-59 years were probably associated with the ending of the pandemic rather than pandemic-associated factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryusuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (R.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Eishi Motomura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (R.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Toshiaki Onitsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, NHO Sakakibara National Hospital, Tsu 514-1292, Japan;
| | - Motohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (R.M.); (E.M.)
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Wu J, Qiu L, Xiong W, Shen Y, Li J, Wu J, Zhou Q. COVID-19 anxiety and related factors amid adjusted epidemic prevention policies: a cross-sectional study on patients with late-life depression in China. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e072725. [PMID: 38000824 PMCID: PMC10680000 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the prevalence and associated factors of COVID-19 anxiety in patients with late-life depression (LLD) during the adjustment of epidemic prevention policies in China. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING The data analysed in this study were collected from seven regions in China between November 2022 and January 2023. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1205 patients with LLD (aged 60-78 years) participated in the survey. They completed a social demographic assessment and the Chinese version of the five-point Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the anxiety level of the participants. Patients were categorised into two groups based on their anxiety levels, one with anxiety and one without, according to CAS scores. RESULTS The prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety in depressed older adults was 47.3%. Regression analysis revealed that the average COVID-19 anxiety score was significantly higher among females (AOR: 2.177, 95% CI 1.201 to 3.947), widowed individuals (AOR: 3.015, 95% CI 1.379 to 6.591), patients residing at a distance from healthcare facilities (AOR: 3.765, 95% CI 1.906 to 7.438), and those who frequently experienced worry (AOR: 1.984, 95% CI 1.111 to 3.543). Conversely, the anxiety score was significantly lower among divorced individuals (AOR: 0.491, 95% CI 0.245 to 0.988), those aged 70 years and above (AOR: 0.117, 95% CI 0.064 to 0.213), patients without difficulty obtaining medication (AOR: 0.027, 95% CI 0.007 to 0.097), those living with family members (AOR: 0.080, 95% CI 0.022 to 0.282) or in nursing homes compared with those living alone (AOR: 0.019, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.087). CONCLUSION Women with LLD who are widowed, live far from healthcare facilities, and are prone to excessive worry are more likely to experience anxiety. It is advisable to implement appropriate preventive measures and provide psychosocial support programmes for this vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linghe Qiu
- Department of General Psychiatry, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wendian Xiong
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Shen
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing First Hospital, Nangjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ju Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Provincial Rongjun Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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Do R, Kim S, Lim YB, Kim SJ, Kwon H, Kim JM, Lee S, Kim BN. Korean adolescents' coping strategies on self-harm, ADHD, insomnia during COVID-19: text mining of social media big data. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1192123. [PMID: 38034911 PMCID: PMC10686066 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1192123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Since the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), public safety measures, including social distancing and school closures, have been implemented, precipitating psychological difficulties and heightened online activities for adolescents. However, studies examining the impact of the pandemic on adolescent mental health and their coping strategies in Asian countries are limited. Further, most studies have used survey measures to capture mental health challenges so far. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the psychological challenges South Korean adolescents experienced and their coping strategies during the pandemic using the Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Text mining (TM) technique on adolescents' social media texts/posts. Methods The data were gathered from social media texts/posts such as online communities, Twitter, and personal blogs from January 1, 2019, to October 31, 2021. The 12,520,250 texts containing keywords related to adolescents' common psychological difficulties reported during the pandemic, including self-harm, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD), and insomnia, were analyzed by TM, NLP using information extraction, co-occurrence and sentiment analysis. The monthly frequency of the keywords and their associated words was also analyzed to understand the time trend. Results Adolescents used the word "self-harm" in their social media texts more frequently during the second wave of COVID-19 (August to September 2020). "Friends" was the most associated word with "self-harm." While the frequency of texts with "Insomnia" stayed constant throughout the pandemic, the word "ADHD" was increasingly mentioned in social media. ADHD and insomnia were most frequently associated with ADHD medications and sleeping pills, respectively. Friends were generally associated with positive words, while parents were associated with negative words. Conclusion During COVID-19, Korean adolescents often expressed their psychological challenges on social media platforms. However, their coping strategies seemed less efficient to help with their difficulties, warranting strategies to support them in the prolonged pandemic era. For example, Korean adolescents shared psychological challenges such as self-harm with friends rather than their parents. They considered using medicine (e.g., sleeping pills and ADHD medication) as coping strategies for sleep and attention problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryemi Do
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
| | - You Bin Lim
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Jin Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyerim Kwon
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Sooyeon Lee
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Jagodics B, Szabó É. Is intergroup discrimination triggered by vaccination status? Exploring some social aspects of vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 163:826-840. [PMID: 35674409 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2022.2085074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The pandemic has affected social relations in many ways, and even created new social groups through vaccination. The goal of this study was to explore whether intergroup discrimination regarding vaccination status can be observed in a resource allocation task. Participants (N = 818; Mage = 46.0 years) completed a resource allocation task. Results showed that the better-than-average effect was widespread among the participants as most of them perceived themselves more informed about the pandemic than others. The resource allocation task showed participants preferred to create maximum difference in favor of their group in intergroup situations, but decisions were fairer when targets' group membership was identical. Moreover, vaccinated people were more likely to use maximum difference strategies than non-vaccinated people. The results revealed that vaccination status changes the perception of intergroup situations, which may be important in planning future strategies to handle mass emergencies similar to the current pandemic.
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Erdem Torun Ş, Pehlivantürk Kızılkan M, Derman O, Akgül S. Suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents from a tertiary hospital in Turkey: A comparative study of pre and postpandemic periods. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023:13591045231210171. [PMID: 37917530 DOI: 10.1177/13591045231210171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM This study aims to compare changes in rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and attempts (SA) among adolescents during pre, mid and later periods of the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHOD This study included adolescents who presented to the adolescent medicine clinic in Turkey between March-May 2019 (prepandemic = T0), March-May 2021(mid period of the pandemic = T1) and March-May 2022 (late period year of the pandemic = T2). SI and SA data were assessed through the electronic hospital records of the "HEEADSSS" inventory. RESULTS The charts of 2113 adolescents were evaluated. The rates of both SI (p = .015) and SA (p = .026) were determined to be higher during the pandemic (T1+T2) compared to the pre-pandemic period, with a 1.4-fold increase in SI and a 1.5-fold increase in SA. The rates of SI did not differ according to gender, (p = .090). In contrast, SA rate was significantly higher in females (7.3%) than males (3.6%) (p = .001). CONCLUSION This study reveals an increase in SI and SA among adolescents during the first 2 years of the pandemic. In challenging times, health professionals should prioritize the identification and treatment of mental health issues, including screening for depression and suicide risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şeyma Erdem Torun
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Orhan Derman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sinem Akgül
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Sahoo S, Patra S. A Rapid Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Suicide and Self-Harm Behaviors in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. CRISIS 2023; 44:497-505. [PMID: 37194641 DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has caused psychological, social, and physical isolation in adolescents resulting in varying rates of suicidal behavior and self-harm. Aims: We investigated the pandemic's impact on adolescent suicidal behavior and self-harm by reviewing the existing literature. Methods: We searched PubMed using keywords: adolescent, suicide, suicidal behavior, self-harm, prevalence, and COVID-19 and included studies reporting primary data only. Results: Of the 551 studies identified, we included 39 studies in the final analysis. Two of the six high-quality population-based suicide registry studies reported increased suicide rates during the pandemic. Seven of fifteen emergency department-based studies out of which four were of high quality and three high-quality population-based health registry studies reported increased self-harm. A few school and community-based surveys and national helpline data also reported an increase in suicidal behavior or self-harm. Limitations: Methodological heterogeneity of the included studies. Conclusions: There is wide variation in study methodology, population, settings, and age groups in the included studies. Suicidal behavior and self-harm were increased in specific study settings and adolescent populations during the pandemic. More methodologically rigorous research is needed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent suicidal behavior and self-harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swapnajeet Sahoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Suravi Patra
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar, India
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Cabral S, Rocha T, Caetano S, Mari J, Borschmann R, Asevedo E. Decrease in suicide rates in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Res 2023; 329:115443. [PMID: 37769372 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Natural disasters such as public health epidemics may potentially affect suicide rates. The global COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge for healthcare systems and general populations worldwide. In this retrospective ecological study, we aimed to examine any changes in the suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the relationship between COVID-19 death rates and deaths by suicide in Brazil. Data on suicide and COVID-19 case numbers were extracted from the Ministry of Health agencies and grouped weekly. We performed a time series analysis of suicide rates, a comparison of mean suicide rates between the pre-COVID-19 period and the COVID-19 period, and conducted a Poisson regression to examine the relationship between deaths due to COVID-19 and suicide rates. Our results showed decreased suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also found that deaths owing to COVID-19 impact those owing to suicide after 10 weeks in the upward direction; however, we did not observe for enough time to see a change in the suicide rate curve. These findings are fundamental to understand suicidal behaviors in epidemic situations. However, the field needs more studies evaluating the impact of significant public health events on suicidality, incorporating extended follow-up periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Cabral
- Unidade de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Base, Instituto de Gestão Estratégica de Saúde do Distrito Federal (IGESDF), Distrito Federal, DF, Brazil; Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - T Rocha
- Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - S Caetano
- Unidade de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Base, Instituto de Gestão Estratégica de Saúde do Distrito Federal (IGESDF), Distrito Federal, DF, Brazil
| | - J Mari
- Unidade de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Base, Instituto de Gestão Estratégica de Saúde do Distrito Federal (IGESDF), Distrito Federal, DF, Brazil
| | - R Borschmann
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, UK; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - E Asevedo
- Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Hwang IT, Fu-Tsung Shaw F, Hsu WY, Liu GY, Kuan CI, Gunnell D, Chang SS. "I Can't See an End in Sight." How the COVID-19 Pandemic May Influence Suicide Risk. CRISIS 2023; 44:458-469. [PMID: 35983713 PMCID: PMC10658636 DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences may affect population mental health and suicide risk. Aims: To explore the experiences among suicidal individuals who made calls to a suicide prevention hotline and to identify factors and psychological responses that may influence suicide risk. Method: We identified 60 eligible recorded calls to Taiwan's suicide prevention hotline (January 23, 2020-May 31, 2020) and analyzed the transcripts using a framework analysis. Results: We identified three themes: (a) effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on society (impacts on local economies, the fear of contagion, and disruptions caused by outbreak control measures); (b) stress experienced by callers, including increased challenges (financial burden, restricted freedom of movement, interpersonal conflicts, feelings of uncertainty, and education/career interruption) and reduced support (reduced access to health services and social support); and (c) the callers' psychological responses to stress, including anxiety, sleep disturbance, depression, loneliness, hopelessness, and entrapment, which may increase suicide risk. Limitations: Only the experiences among those who sought help by calling the hotline during the early months of the pandemic in 2020 were explored. Conclusion: Our findings revealed the potential process underlying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide risk and have implications for prevention and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Ting Hwang
- Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fortune Fu-Tsung Shaw
- Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Resource Development, National Chi Nan University, Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yau Hsu
- Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Mind, Brain and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Guang-Yi Liu
- Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-I Kuan
- Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - David Gunnell
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, UK
| | - Shu-Sen Chang
- Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Global Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Matsumoto R, Motomura E, Okada M. Impacts of Complete Unemployment Rates Disaggregated by Reason and Duration on Suicide Mortality from 2009-2022 in Japan. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2806. [PMID: 37893880 PMCID: PMC10606519 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In Japan, suicides had consistently decreased before the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2009-2019), but conversely increased after the pandemic outbreak (from 2020-2022). To identify the features of fluctuations of suicides in Japan, the standardized suicide mortality rates per 100,000 population (SMRP) disaggregated by gender (males/females) and age (10-year cohorts) from 2009-2022 were analyzed using interrupted time-series and joinpoint regression analyses. Temporal causalities from unemployment rate (CUR) disaggregated by unemployment duration and reasons for seeking work to SMRP were analyzed using vector autoregressive modelling with Granger causality analysis. SMRP fluctuations from 2009-2022 were composed of three patterns, such as positive discontinuity (increasing) synchronized with the pandemic outbreak, attenuations of decreasing trends before the pandemic, turning from decreasing before the pandemic to increasing/unchanging after the pandemic outbreak. Dismissal CUR positively related to SMRP of working-age generations, whereas voluntary CUR negatively related to SMRP of younger population (<30 years), which turned to persistently increasing before the pandemic (approximately 2016-2017). CUR shorter than 3 months positively related to SMRP of working-age females, which displayed promptly increasing synchronization with the pandemic outbreak. CUR longer than 12 months positively related to SMRP of working-age males, which contributed to persistently increasing SMRPs during the pandemic. These results suggest that increasing SMRP during 2020-2022 in Japan has been probably at-tributed to interactions among the pandemic-related factors, continuous vulnerabilities from before the pandemic and newly developing risk factors for suicides during the pandemic. Unexpectedly, increasing SMRPs of working-age males in 2022 suggest that either prolongation of the pandemic or the ending of the pandemic might positively affect suicides in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Motohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (R.M.); (E.M.)
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50
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Amendola S, Volken T, Zysset A, Huber M, von Wyl A, Dratva J. Trend in loneliness among Swiss university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY REPORT 2023; 12:53-67. [PMID: 38425886 PMCID: PMC10900978 DOI: 10.5114/hpr/169721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The need to maintain physical and social distance between people and the stay-at-home recommendation/order to contain the spread of COVID-19 have raised concerns about the possible increase in loneliness. However, few studies have analyzed trends or changes in loneliness in samples of young adults. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of loneliness and its change during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE This is a repeated cross-sectional study analyzing data collected through six online surveys between April 2020 and March 2021 from 5,669 university students in Switzerland. Logistic regression models were used to examine trends in loneliness and associations between loneliness, well-being, life at home, COVID-19 symptoms and tests. RESULTS Loneliness decreased between April 2020 and May-June 2020. In contrast, loneliness was higher in December 2020, January and March 2021 compared to April 2020. Loneliness was associated with younger age, studying architecture, design and civil engineering or engineering, enjoying time spent with family/partner, experiencing tensions and conflicts at home, boredom, feeling locked up and subjective well-being and current health. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight an increase in loneliness during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, although a seasonality effect cannot be excluded. Public health systems and educational institutions need to monitor the effects of social distancing measures and reduced social contact on students' loneliness and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Amendola
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Volken
- Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Annina Zysset
- Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Marion Huber
- Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Agnes von Wyl
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Dratva
- Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
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