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. 2022 Mar:56:4-12.
doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.11.006. Epub 2021 Nov 19.

Suicide-related thoughts and behavior and suicide death trends during the COVID-19 in the general population of Catalonia, Spain

V Pérez  1 , M Elices  2 , G Vilagut  3 , E Vieta  4 , J Blanch  5 , E Laborda-Serrano  6 , B Prat  7 , F Colom  1 , D Palao  8 , J Alonso  9
Affiliations

Suicide-related thoughts and behavior and suicide death trends during the COVID-19 in the general population of Catalonia, Spain

V Pérez et al. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2022 Mar.

Erratum in

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase suicidal behavior. However, data available to date are inconsistent. This study examines suicidal thoughts and behaviors and suicide trends in 2020 relative to 2019 as an approximation to the impact of the pandemic on suicidal behavior and death in the general population of Catalonia, Spain. Data on suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and suicidal mortality were obtained from the Catalonia Suicide Risk Code (CSRC) register and the regional police, respectively. We compared the monthly crude incidence of STBs and suicide mortality rates of 2020 with those of 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess changes in trends over time during the studied period. In 2020, 4,263 consultations for STBs and 555 suicide deaths were registered in Catalonia (approx. 7.5 million inhabitants). Compared to 2019, in 2020 STBs rates decreased an average of 6.3% (incidence rate ratio, IRR=0.94, 95% CI 0,90-0,98) and overall suicide death rates increased 1.2% (IRR=1.01, 95% CI 0.90-1.13). Joinpoint regression results showed a substantial decrease in STBs rates with a monthly percent change (MPC) of -22.1 (95% CI: -41.1, 2.9) from January-April 2020, followed by a similar increase from April-July 2020 (MPC=24.7, 95% CI: -5.9, 65.2). The most restrictive measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic reduced consultations for STBs, suggesting that the "stay at home" message may have discouraged people from contacting mental health services. STBs and mortality should continue to be monitored in 2021 and beyond to understand better the mid-to-long term impact of COVID-19 on suicide trends.

Keywords: COVID-19 outbreak; Suicidal behavior; Suicide; Suicide death.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest EV reports personal fees from Abbott, personal fees from Allergan, personal fees from Angelini, grants from Novartis, grants from Ferrer, grants and personal fees from Janssen, personal fees from Lundbeck, personal fees from Sage, personal fees from Sanofi, outside the sub-mitted work. VPS has been a consultant to or has received honoraria or grants from AB-Biotics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, CIBERSAM, FIS- ISCIII, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Servier and Pfizer. DP has received grants and also served as consultant or advisor for Angelini, Janssen, Lundbeck and Servier. FC has served as a speaker or in the advisory board of the following companies: Abott, Sanofi and Sandoz. He has received unrestricted research support from Telefónica Alpha. All other authors reported no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Suicide thoughts and behaviors incidence (100000 persons-month) in Catalonia 2019–2020. Crude rates with 95% CI. (both genders) (B). Suicide related consultations in Catalonia 2019–2020 by gender. Crude rates with 95% CI (women). (C). Suicide related consultations in Catalonia 2019–2020 by gender. Crude rates with 95% CI (men).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Suicide-related thoughts and behaviors incidence (100000 persons-month) in Catalonia, 2019–2020, crude rates and estimated monthly percent changes from Joinpoint regression analysis. MPC: Monthly percent rate; CI: Confidence intervalDotted gray lines indicate the location of the three joinpoints from the final selected model; coloured segments represent MPC for each section of the plot determined by the joinpoints.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Suicide death trends in Catalonia 2019–2020. Crude rates with 95% CI.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Crude incidence rates and estimated monthly percent change from Joinpoint regression analysis of suicide deaths in Catalonia, 2019–2020 MPC: Monthly percent change; CI: Confidence Interval coloured segments represent MPC for each section of the plot determined by the Joinpoint analysis where no Joinpoint are selected.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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