Suicidal ideation among young adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a population-based cross-sectional study. / Idées suicidaires chez les jeunes adultes au Canada pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 : données tirées d'une enquête populationnelle transversale.

Using data from the 2020 and 2021 cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health,we examined suicidal ideation among adults in Canada aged 18 to 34 years. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among adults aged 18 to 34 years was 4.2% in fall 2020 and 8.0% in spring 2021. The subgroup of adults aged 18 to 24 years had the highest prevalence of suicidal ideation, 10.7%, in spring 2021. Prevalence varied by sociodemographic characteristics and tended to be higher among people living in materially deprived areas. Suicidal ideation was strongly associated with pandemic-related stressors respondents experienced.

In spring 2021, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among young adults aged 18 to 34 years was 8.0%. At 10.7%, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was highest in the subgroup of young adults aged 18 to 24 years, in spring 2021. The odds of suicidal ideation were higher among young adults who were White versus racialized, born in Canada versus immigrated to Canada, living with low or middle income, with high school education or less, or living in a materially deprived area. Pandemic-related experiences, stressful events and mental illness were strongly associated with suicidal ideation.

La prévalence des idées suicidaires chez les jeunes adultes de 18 à 34 ans était de 8,0 % au printemps 2021. La prévalence la plus élevée d'idées suicidaires, soit 10,7 %, correspond au sous-groupe des jeunes adultes de 18 à 24 ans au printemps 2021. Les probabilités d'idées suicidaires étaient plus élevées chez les jeunes adultes qui étaient d'origine blanche (par opposition aux membres d'un groupe « racisé ¼), ceux nés au Canada (par opposition à ceux ayant immigré au Canada), ceux vivant avec un revenu faible ou moyen, ceux ayant fait des études de niveau secondaire ou moins et ceux vivant dans un milieu défavorisé sur le plan matériel. Les expériences liées à la pandémie, les événements stressants et la maladie mentale étaient fortement associés aux idées suicidaires.

Pandemic-related impacts and suicidal ideation among adults in Canada: a population-based cross-sectional study. / Répercussions de la pandémie et idées suicidaires chez les adultes au Canada : une enquête populationnelle transversale.

INTRODUCTION: Recent evidence has suggested an increase in suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objectives were to estimate the likelihood of suicidal ideation among adults in Canada who experienced pandemic-related impacts and to determine if this likelihood changed during the pandemic. METHODS: We analyzed pooled data for 18 936 adults 18 years or older who responded to two cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health collected from 11 September to 4 December 2020 and from 1 February to 7 May 2021. We estimated the prevalence of suicidal ideation since the pandemic began and conducted logistic regression to evaluate the likelihood of suicidal ideation by adults who experienced pandemic-related impacts, and by factors related to social risk, mental health status, positive mental health indicators and coping strategies. RESULTS: Adults who had adverse pandemic-related experiences were significantly more likely to experience suicidal ideation; a dose-response relationship was evident. People who increased their alcohol or cannabis use, expressed concerns about violence in their home or who had moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorder also had significantly higher risk of suicidal ideation. The risk was significantly lower among people who reported high self-rated mental health, community belonging or life satisfaction, who exercised for their mental and/or physical health or who pursued hobbies. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced suicidal ideation in Canada. Our study provides evidence for targeted public health interventions related to suicide prevention.

Prevalence of suicidal ideation among adults in Canada: Results of the second Survey on COVID-19 and mental health.

Introduction: Data from the first round of the nationally representative Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH) revealed that the prevalence of recent suicidal ideation in the fall of 2020 in Canada did not differ significantly from that in the pre-pandemic period in 2019. The objective of the present study was to reassess the prevalence of recent suicidal ideation in the spring of 2021. Methods: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among adults in Canada was examined using the 2021 SCMH (conducted between February 1 and May 7, 2021), and it was compared with the prevalence in the 2019 Canadian Community Health Survey. Unadjusted logistic regression analysis was used to assess the differential likelihood of reporting suicidal ideation in population subgroups. Results: Among adults in Canada, the prevalence of suicidal ideation since the pandemic began was 4.2%, which was significantly higher than the pre-pandemic prevalence of 2.7% in 2019. A statistically significant increase in prevalence was observed among females and males, age groups younger than 65, and several other sociodemographic groups, as well as in British Columbia, the Prairie provinces and Ontario. People who were younger than 65 years, were born in Canada, had lower educational attainment, or were never married were significantly more likely to report suicidal ideation than others during the pandemic. Conclusion: As the second year of the pandemic began, the prevalence of recent suicidal ideation in Canada was higher than it had been before the pandemic in 2019. Continuous monitoring of suicide-related outcomes and risks is necessary so that population-level changes can be detected and inform public health action.