COVID-19 impacts and adolescent suicide: The mediating roles of child abuse and mental health conditions.

BACKGROUND: Considerable research has established the harmful impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's and adolescents' health and well-being. However, the literature has been constrained by studies using less representative samples, hindering the generalization of the findings. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the associations of employment disruption and school closures during the pandemic with suicidal ideation and behavior in children and adolescents-and to consider the potential mediating effects of child psychological and physical abuse and subsequent mental health conditions. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This study used the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences data (n = 4692) - a nationally representative survey administered by the CDC of the United States from January to June 2021. METHODS: Logistic regression models were conducted to investigate the associations. A series of multiple mediation models were performed. RESULTS: School closures directly reduced child psychological and physical abuse and suicidal ideation and behavior. Employment disruption did not directly predict suicidal ideation and behavior but primarily through child abuse. Mental health's mediation role was significant in the associations between child psychological abuse and suicidal ideation and behavior, but no evidence suggested the same mediating pattern for the physical abuse-suicidal ideation and behavior relationship. Within the covariates, sexual orientation was the most consistent and highest risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to current knowledge on disaster impact, child abuse, and suicidal ideation and behavior, and it can also provide policy and intervention awareness for social workers.

Findings from an online survey on the mental health effects of COVID-19 on Canadians with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to worsening mental health outcomes throughout the Canadian population, its effects have been more acute among already marginalized groups, including people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. This paper examines how heightened fears of contracting the virus, financial impacts, and social isolation contribute to declining mental health among this already vulnerable group. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: This paper investigates how increases in anxiety, stress, and despair are associated with concerns about getting infected, COVID-19-induced financial hardship, and increased social isolation as a result of adhering to protective measures among people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. METHODS: This study uses original national quota-based online survey data (n = 1027) collected in June 2020 from people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Three logistic regression models investigate the relationship between COVID-19's effects on finances, concerns about contracting the virus, changes in loneliness and belonging, and measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19 and reports of increased anxiety, stress, and despair, net of covariates. RESULTS: Models show that increased anxiety, stress, and despair were associated with negative financial effects of COVID-19, greater concerns about contracting COVID-19, increased loneliness, and decreased feelings of belonging. Net of other covariates, increased measures taken to combat COVID-19 was not significantly associated with mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings address how the global health crisis is contributing to declining mental health status through heightened concerns over contracting the virus, increases in economic insecurity, and growing social isolation, speaking to how health pandemics exacerbate health inequalities.