Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41416679›Full record

SynthesisEpidemiology and psychiatric sciences2025

Temporal patterns of suicidal ideation prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Xuefei Tao, Zhihui Zhang, Li Liang, Shen Xu, Xiayu Du, Zhihong Ren, Xianglian Yu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xuefei TaoKey Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior, CCNU, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7696-5623
Zhihui ZhangKey Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior, CCNU, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
Li LiangKey Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior, CCNU, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
Shen XuKey Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior, CCNU, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
Xiayu DuKey Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior, CCNU, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
Zhihong RenKey Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior, CCNU, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
Xianglian YuDepartment of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsAlthough extensive research has been conducted on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global mental health, a systematic synthesis of the cross-time dynamics of suicidal ideation (SI) remains lacking. This study aims to systematically synthesise the global aggregated prevalence of SI before and after the pandemic, investigate the potential association between pandemic exposure and the SI risk through meta-regression analysis of longitudinal studies, and explore key moderating factors.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO and ProQuest databases up to August 2025. Observational studies were included if they employed cross-sectional or longitudinal designs and reported the prevalence of SI before and after the pandemic across global regions.

resultsThe analysis included 354 cross-sectional studies (

conclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic's impact on SI was dynamic. While no significant prevalence change was found between pre- and post-pandemic periods, a significant increase occurred as the crisis progressed. This deteriorating trend was more pronounced in adolescents, identifying them as a key vulnerable group. Methodologically, findings were moderated by the measurement instrument, study quality and sample size, with evidence suggesting potential small-study effects. These findings underscore the need for robust mental health surveillance and targeted interventions for at-risk populations during prolonged public health crises.The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024603151).

Indexed as

COVID-19Suicidal IdeationCross-Sectional StudiesHumansLongitudinal StudiesPandemicsPrevalenceSARS-CoV-2COVID-19epidemiologysocial factorssuicidesystematic reviews

Identifiers

PMID41416679
PMCPMC12722189

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.