SynthesisSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2024
Suicide rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- A Pilot Qualitative Study to Better Understand the Factors Related to Suicides and Inform Public Health Action Across a Predominantly Coastal and Rural Area: Cornwall, Southwest of England.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Qualitative Content Analysis of COVID-19's Role in Suicide Attempts Leading to Hospital Care.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Understanding Canadian experiences of suicidality during the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol of a pan-Canadian qualitative study.BMJ open · 2025Article
- The Sociology of Suicide After COVID-19: Assessment of the Spanish Case.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Injury patterns of suicide attempts in the head and neck area-a retrospective analysis over 15 years.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Article
- What was associated with suicide planning in middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 lockdown?Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
- "Loneliness is killing me?!": the subjective emotional experience of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a cross-sectional study in patients with a psychiatric disorder.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2025Article
- Suicides and Overdoses at Work: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2011-2022.American journal of preventive medicine · 2025Article
- The disability-adjusted life years attributable to mental disorders and self-harm in China from 1990-2021: Findings from the global burden of disease study 2021.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
- Association Between COVID-19 and Self-Harm: Nationwide Retrospective Ecological Spatiotemporal Study in Metropolitan France.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are well-documented in the literature, but its influence on suicidal patterns shows divergent results. We aim to comprehensively synthesize evidence on potential changes or stability of suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
methodsA comprehensive search of studies reporting suicide rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted. Eligible studies reported incidences of confirmed suicides (suspected in special cases) for two time periods, before (until February 2020) and during (from March 2020 to June 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. A meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effect model was performed to estimate the pre- and during-pandemic incidence rates of suicide with 95% confidence intervals. Differences in pre- and during-pandemic rates were formally tested using a heterogeneity test.
resultsA total of 34 studies were included in the review capturing suicide data from over 40 countries and regions. The meta-analysis outputs did not indicate a significant change in suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pooled suicide rate in the studied period before the pandemic was 11.38 per 100,000 (95% CI 9.35-13.42) and in the period during the pandemic was 10.65 per 100,000 (95% CI 8.61-12.68).
conclusionNo significant change in suicide rates was observed during the COVID pandemic from a global perspective for the periods examined. A longer follow-up can provide additional insights into such suicide trends globally. Improvements in data reporting, specifically with implementation of real-time surveillance, is imperative to provide adequate suicide prevention and support.
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