Suicide trends in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time-series analysis of preliminary data from 21 countries
Analysis of data from 21 countries (16 high-income including England) found that in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, suicide numbers have remained largely unchanged or declined in early months of pandemic compared with expected levels based on pre-pandemic period.
Source:
The Lancet Psychiatry
SPS commentary:
A commentary cautions that despite this initial snapshot, governments and services need to remain vigilant for a possible delayed increase in suicides as a result of the pandemic. It highlights that suicide can be a lagging indicator of psychosocial difficulties, influenced by medium-term and longer-term disruptions to civic life and the economy. Other work has shown that suicides can increase following economic recession, and such increases can be sustained for several years.