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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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Martínez-Alés G, López-Cuadrado T, Morrison C, Keyes K, Susser E. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide mortality in Spain: Differences by sex and age. J Affect Disord 2023; 329:315-323. [PMID: 36863466 PMCID: PMC9974212 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variations in suicide following the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak were heterogeneous across space, over time, and across population subgroup. Whether suicide has increased during the pandemic in Spain, a major initial COVID-19 hotspot, remains unclear, and no study has examined differences by sociodemographic group. METHODS We used 2016-2020 data on monthly suicide deaths from Spain's National Institute of Statistics. We implemented Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models to control seasonality, non-stationarity, and autocorrelation. Using January 2016-March 2020 data, we predicted monthly suicide counts (95 % prediction intervals) between April and December 2020, and then compared observed and predicted monthly suicide counts. All calculations were conducted for the overall study population and by sex and age group. RESULTS Between April and December 2020, the number of suicides in Spain was 11 % higher-than-predicted. Monthly suicide counts were lower-than-expected in April 2020 and peaked in August 2020 with 396 observed suicides. Excess suicide counts were particularly salient during the summer of 2020 - largely driven by over 50 % higher-than-expected suicide counts among males aged 65 years and older in June, July, and August 2020. DISCUSSION The number of suicides increased in Spain during the months following the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Spain, largely driven by increases in suicides among older adults. Potential explanations underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. Important factors to understand these findings may include fear of contagion, isolation, and loss and bereavement - in the context of the particularly high mortality rates of older adults during the initial phases of the pandemic in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Martínez-Alés
- CAUSALab, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | - Katherine Keyes
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ezra Susser
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
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Yan Y, Hou J, Li Q, Yu NX. Suicide before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3346. [PMID: 36834037 PMCID: PMC9960664 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Synthesizing evidence to examine changes in suicide-related outcomes before and during the pandemic can inform suicide management during the COVID-19 crisis. We searched 13 databases as of December 2022 for studies reporting both the pre- and peri-pandemic prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or rate of death by suicide. A random-effects model was used to pool the ratio of peri- and pre-pandemic prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt (Prevalence Ratio-PR) and rate of death by suicide (Rate Ratio; RR). We identified 51, 55, and 25 samples for suicidal ideation, attempt, and death by suicide. The prevalence of suicidal ideation increased significantly among non-clinical (PR = 1.142; 95% CI: 1.018-1.282; p = 0.024; k = 28) and clinical (PR = 1.134; 95% CI: 1.048-1.227; p = 0.002; k = 23) samples, and pooled estimates differed by population and study design. Suicide attempts were more prevalent during the pandemic among non-clinical (PR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.053-1.233; p = 0.001; k = 30) and clinical (PR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.17-1.489; p = 0.000; k = 25) participants. The pooled RR for death by suicide was 0.923 (95% CI: 0.84-1.01; p = 0.092; k = 25), indicating a nonsignificant downward trend. An upward trend of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite suicide rate remaining stable. Our findings suggest that timely prevention and intervention programs are highly needed for non-clinical adult population and clinical patients. Monitoring the real-time and long-run suicide risk as the pandemic evolves is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Yan
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jianhua Hou
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nancy Xiaonan Yu
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Kułak-Bejda A, Krajewska-Ferishah K, Szyszko-Perłowska A, Waszkiewicz N. Risk Assessment of Depression amongst Women during Menopause before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:596. [PMID: 36612916 PMCID: PMC9819991 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
During menopause, the risk of depression is 2-5 times greater than pre- or post-menopause. To assess the risk of depression amongst menopausal women in 2006, compared with 2021 (i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic), we recruited female volunteers at least 40 years old to complete the menopause rating scale (MRS), the Blatt-Kupperman menopausal index (BKMI), and the Beck depression inventory. Compared with 2006, in 2021, the number of participants who experienced mild, moderate, and severe menopausal symptoms rose by 8%, 1.9%, and 3.2%, respectively. Moreover, the frequency of using hormone replacement therapy rose by 5.1%, feelings of mistrust by 16%, feelings of guilt by 11%, disposition to cry by 25%, mood swings by 12%, and suicidal ideation by 9%, whilst the average body weight and body mass index fell by 5.1 kg and 2.3%, respectively. In 2006 and 2021, 46.3% and 59.3% of participants experienced moderate depression, whereas 3.0% and 5.2% experienced severe depression. The number of participants who denied needing support during menopause decreased by 14.6%, whereas the demand for support from husbands and friends increased by 18.3% and 9.8%, respectively. In 2021, the number of participants who experienced menopausal symptoms, a loss of trust, self-blame, a tendency to cry, mood swings, suicidal ideation, and anxiety also increased compared with 2006, whilst the number of participants without depressive symptoms decreased, but with suspected mild or severe depression increased. Last, menopausal complaints caused an increase in depressive mood in 2021, as evaluated using the BKMI and MRS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Napoleon Waszkiewicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Białystok, 15-272 Białystok, Poland
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Beesoon S, Bakal JA, Youngson E, Williams KP, Berzins SA, Brindle ME, Joffe AM. Excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada. IJID REGIONS 2022; 5:62-67. [PMID: 36060856 PMCID: PMC9424127 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives To determine if there was excess mortality in Alberta, Canada during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to confirm if excess mortality affected all age groups equally, and to determine what proportions of excess deaths were directly related to COVID-19 and non-pharmaceutical drug poisoning. Methods Weekly all-cause data used to estimate excess mortality were modelled against the pre-pandemic period (January 2015-February 2020). Age-adjusted weekly mortality rates for March 2020 to December 2021 were compared with the preceding 5 years. Results From March 2020 to December 2021, there was an 11% excess mortality rate, corresponding to an average of 265 monthly excess deaths (maximum >30%). COVID-19-related deaths (n=3202) accounted for 54.9% of total excess deaths (n=5833) that occurred in the 22-month period. The increase in all-cause excess deaths was proportionately higher, and with significantly greater numbers, in younger age groups. Significant increases in monthly drug poisoning deaths occurred from March 2020 to April 2021, with a total of 1819 deaths. Eight hundred and 25 excess drug poisoning deaths, representing 25.4% of total all-cause excess deaths, occurred, mainly among those aged 25-60 years. Overall, 54.9% of all excess deaths were directly related to COVID-19 and 25.4% were related to drug poisoning. Conclusions There was a significant increase in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although older adults are more likely to die of COVID-19, a massive increase in non-COVID-19-related mortality was observed among younger people. These factors should be considered in public policy decisions on epidemic/pandemic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Beesoon
- Surgery Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeffrey A. Bakal
- Provincial Research Data Services, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Data and Research Services, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Erik Youngson
- Provincial Research Data Services, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Data and Research Services, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kienan P. Williams
- Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra A. Berzins
- Surgery Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Departments of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Education and Research, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mary E. Brindle
- Surgery Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - A. Mark Joffe
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cancer Care Alberta, Clinical Support Services and Provincial Clinical Excellence, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Karim S, Choukas-Bradley S, Radovic A, Roberts SR, Maheux AJ, Escobar-Viera CG. Support over Social Media among Socially Isolated Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Rural U.S. during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities for Intervention Research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15611. [PMID: 36497684 PMCID: PMC9738510 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) rural adolescents are at risk for higher levels of social isolation, a well-known risk factor for depression and other negative health outcomes. We qualitatively examined how rural SGM youth seek emotional and informational support, which are protective factors for social isolation on social media (SM) regarding their SGM identity, and determined which SM platforms and tools are most effective in providing support. We conducted semistructured online interviews with rural SGM teens who screened positive for social isolation in spring 2020 and used a thematic analysis approach to analyze the data. Sixteen youths participated in interviews. Themes included seeking emotional support through SM groups and communities, seeking emotional support in designated online SGM spaces, using SM feeds for informational support, and disclosing SGM identity differentially across platforms. SM-based interventions could be leveraged to provide emotional and informational support for rural SGM youth across specific SM platforms and consider whether they are providing emotional or information support. Interventions focused on informational support may best be used on content-based platforms. Those designed to combat social isolation and connect marginalized SGM youths to similar others might benefit from community and forum-based platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Karim
- Learning Sciences Research, Digital Promise 1001 Connecticut Ave NW #935, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - Sophia Choukas-Bradley
- Department of Psychology, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Ana Radovic
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Center for Enhancing Treatment & Utilization for Depression & Emergent Suicidality (ETUDES), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Savannah R. Roberts
- Department of Psychology, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Anne J. Maheux
- Department of Psychology, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - César G. Escobar-Viera
- Center for Enhancing Treatment & Utilization for Depression & Emergent Suicidality (ETUDES), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Pikala M, Krzywicka M, Burzyńska M. Excess mortality in Poland during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1048659. [PMID: 36466544 PMCID: PMC9713822 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1048659] [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: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of the study was to analyse excess deaths by major causes of death and associated changes in the mortality pattern of the Polish population in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The study used data on all deaths in Poland which occurred between 2010 and 2020 (N = 3,912,237). 10-year mortality trends for 2010-2019 were determined. An analysis of time trends has been carried out with joinpoint models and Joinpoint Regression Program. Based on the determined regression models, the number of deaths expected in 2020 and the number of excess deaths due to selected causes were calculated. Results The crude death rates of all-cause deaths increased from 2000 to 2019 at an average annual rate of 1% (p = 0.0007). The determined regression model revealed that the number of deaths in 2020 should have been 413,318 (95% CI: 411,252 to 415,385). In reality, 477,355 people died in Poland that year. The number of excess deaths was therefore 64,037 (15.5%). According to data from Statistics Poland the number of COVID-19-related deaths was 40,028, the number of non-COVID-19 deaths was 24,009. The largest percentage increase over the expected number of deaths was observed for suicide (12.5%), mental and behavioral disorders (7.2%) and diseases of circulatory system (5.9%). A lower than expected number of deaths was observed for malignant neoplasms (-3.2%) and transport accidents (-0.1%). Conclusion The difference between expected and observed non-COVID-19 deaths in 2020 indicates a need for further analysis of the causes of excess mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Pikala
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The Chair of Social and Preventive Medicine of the Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Krzywicka
- Faculty of Technical Physics, Information Technology, and Applied Mathematics, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
| | - Monika Burzyńska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The Chair of Social and Preventive Medicine of the Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland,*Correspondence: Monika Burzyńska
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