Suicide in the Time of COVID-19: Review and Recommendations

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents us with unusual challenges to the global health system and economics. The pandemic may not have an immediate impact on suicide rates, however, given that it is likely to result in a confluence of risk factors for suicide and economic crisis, it is highly possibly that it will lead to increases in suicide rates in the long-run. Elderly persons are more likely to live alone, be socially isolated during COVID-19 and have physical health problems, which are risk factors for suicide. Young children and health professionals may also be population at risk. Isolation, quarantine and the economic crisis that follows may impact mental health significantly. The International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR) is an organization dedicated to promote high standards of research and scholarship in the field of suicidal behaviour to support efforts to prevent suicide globally. This IASR’s board position paper gives recommendations for suicide research during the COVID-10 pandemic. Clinical research has to be modified due to COVID-19 shutdown.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• suicide attempted
• position
• prevention
• research methods

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gil Zalsman

Gil Zalsman, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and Geha Mental Health Center, Israel; Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Barbara Stanley

Barbara Stanley, Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Katalin Szanto

Katalin Szanto, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Diana E. Clarke

Diana E. Clarke, American Psychiatric Association and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA.

Vladimir Carli

Vladimir Carli, National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.

Lars Mehlum

Lars Mehlum, National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.