Suicidal Behavior During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: during the COVID-19 pandemic, many mental health problems among the population have been exacerbated, which raised fears regarding possible increase in suicides. In response to that, studies of suicidal behavior all around the world have grown substantially. In many countries, given the constantly changing situation, research is based not only on national statistical data, which are usually 1–1.5 years late, but efforts are made to collect real-time information.The aim: to integrate the results of observations regarding possible associations between suicidal behavior and pandemic waves and restrictive measures and offer explanations for the observed trends.Materials: relevant papers were identified during the monitoring of domestic and foreign scientific databases.Results: observations show that after the announcement of severe restrictive measures, despite the fact that the level of stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and other mental health disorders increased in the population, there was no increase in suicide mortality. On the contrary, in many countries, cities and regions, more frequently decrease in completed suicides, as well as in non-fatal suicidal behavior, was observed. The explanation of this phenomenon is related to the concept of crisis and lies in the field of sociological theories to a greater extent than in the field of the medical and psychiatric model of suicide. A pandemic is a typical example of a global crisis, which is characterized by an acute, chronic and recovery phase. After the crisis will be over and in the longer perspective, due to the anticipated serious changes in the lives of large contingents of people, it is necessary to be prepared for possible negative tendencies in suicidal behavior.Conclusion: despite the fact that the current pandemic did not result in an increase of suicides, it is necessary to intensify research in the field of suicidology. Efforts aimed at developing, organizing and implementing more effective suicide prevention measures are needed. It is essential that they should be culturally and organizationally acceptable and adapted to the current level of intensity of information flows.