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Vulnerable individuals and changes in suicidal behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.
Lee, Gi Eun; Kim, Jong Won; Lee, Kyeong Ryong; Hong, Dae Young; Park, Sang O; Kim, Sin Young; Baek, Kwang Je; Jeon, Hong Jun.
  • Lee GE; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Kim JW; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Lee KR; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Hong DY; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Park SO; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Kim SY; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Baek KJ; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
  • Jeon HJ; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
BJPsych Open ; 8(5): e166, 2022 Sep 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2021389
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major threat to mental health and is associated with an increased risk of suicide. An understanding of suicidal behaviours during the pandemic is necessary for establishing policies to prevent suicides in such social conditions.

AIMS:

We aimed to investigate vulnerable individuals and the characteristics of changes in suicidal behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD:

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suicide attempts who visited the emergency department from February 2019 to January 2021. We analysed the demographic and clinical characteristics, risk factors and rescue factors of patients, and compared the findings between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

RESULTS:

In total, 519 patients were included. During the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, 303 and 270 patients visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt, respectively. The proportion of suicide attempts by women (60.1% v. 69.3%, P = 0.035) and patients with a previous psychiatric illness (63.4% v. 72.9%, P = 0.006) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, patients' rescue scores during the pandemic were lower than those during the pre-pandemic period (12 (interquartile range 11-13) v. 13 (interquartile range 12-14), P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Women and people with previous psychiatric illnesses were more vulnerable to suicide attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suicide prevention policies, such as continuous monitoring and staying in touch with vulnerable individuals, are necessary to cope with suicide risk.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Language: English Journal: BJPsych Open Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Language: English Journal: BJPsych Open Year: 2022 Document Type: Article