Impact of Covid-19 on Suicidological Indicators in the City of Ryazan, Ryazan and Rybnov Regions

ABSTRACT

According to a WHO scientific review global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Features of the pandemic, both related and not directly related to the virus, can lead to various types of suicidal behavior. Aim. To find out if COVID- 19 affects the quantitative characteristics and structure of suicidality using the example of Ryazan, Ryazan and Rybnovsky districts of the Ryazan region. Materials and methods. A study of 9616 death certificates was carried out on the basis of the Ryazan Region State Budgetary Institution "Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination named after D. I. Mastbaum", which made it possible to study the three largest districts of the Ryazan region the city of Ryazan, the Ryazan and Rybnovsky districts. Of the analyzed acts, those were selected that include causes of death that demonstrate the most likely suicidal orientation. The inclusion criteria were the following causes of death falls from a height (Group 1), death by hanging (Group 2), and fatal cuts to the forearm and wrist (Group 3). These death certificates were assessed by age and gender among those who committed suicide. Results and its discussion. According to the analysis for 2019, the SSR (standardized suicidality rate) was10.9, and for 2021 it raised to 14.5, that is, an increase of 33% was noticed. The results of the calculation when disaggregated by sex are different female SSR in 2019 is 2.59 and in 2021 it is 6.96. Male SSR in 2019 is 21.14 and in 2021 it is 20.79. In 2019 there were 70 cases classified as intentional self-harm, and in 2021 there were 92 such cases based on the criterion for including causes, resulting in a 31% increase in suicidality in relative numbers. In group No. 1 (a fall from a height), there was an increase by 78% recorded in the number of suicidal cases. Moreover, the proportion of women in the group of falls increased significantly from 21.4% in 2019 to 40% in 2021. In group No. 2, the number of suicides with the cause "mechanical asphyxia due to compression of the neck with a noose" increased by 28%. In this group, the difference is less pronounced 13.6% in 2019 and 17.2% in 2021. In group No. 3 deaths were recorded only among men. As for age analysis: in group No. 1, the mean age of the deceased decreased by 10 years - from 54.4 in 2019 to 44.9 in 2021. In group No. 2, the mean age of suicide attempters was 51.7 in 2019 and 49.2 year in 2021. It is noteworthy that 5.43% of all suicide attempters were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. When analyzing dynamic changes and the distribution of suicidal cases over time, it was not possible to identify a direct relationship in terms of specific months when the largest number of suicides was detected, with the "peaks" of the incidence of infection. Conclusions. In the first calendar year of the pandemic, the number of suicidal cases increased. Significant changes in the gender and age structure are also visible, which suggests the objective significance of the role of the novel coronavirus infection pandemic as an external factor influencing the quantitative and qualitative structure of suicidality in the Ryazan region.