Evidence-based suicide prevention strategies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

This chapter is introduced to the textbook when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out during the spring of 2020. To include information on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts risk and protective factors for suicide and evidence-based suicide prevention strategies became imperative. The COVID-19 pandemic is like no other, as many nations all over the world enforced strict lockdown and physical distancing measures to prevent the spread of the virus. As the pandemic will go on until effective vaccines will be in use, it is important to examine the positive and negative effects of pandemics and alert decision-makers as well as clinical and public health staff working in suicide prevention activities. In order to successfully combat the likely increase of suicide after the coronavirus crisis, the implementation of evidence-based strategies must be strengthened. Thus, the aim of this chapter is to inform governments, policymakers, and healthcare providers as well as the public to stimulate translation of these recommendations into actions. It describes the public health and healthcare suicide prevention strategies along with the effects of the pandemic on each strategy and recommended actions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)