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. 2022 Mar 1:300:385-391.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.022. Epub 2022 Jan 4.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal ideation in a representative Australian population sample-Longitudinal cohort study

Philip J Batterham  1 , Alison L Calear  2 , Yiyun Shou  3 , Louise M Farrer  2 , Amelia Gulliver  2 , Sonia M McCallum  2 , Amy Dawel  3
Affiliations

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal ideation in a representative Australian population sample-Longitudinal cohort study

Philip J Batterham et al. J Affect Disord. .

Abstract

Objective: The direct and indirect mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are considerable. However, it is unclear how suicidal ideation was affected in communities during the acute lockdown phase of the pandemic, and over the longer-term. This study provides longitudinal data on the prevalence of, and risk factors for, suicidal ideation in the Australian national population, during the pandemic.

Method: The Australian National COVID-19 Mental Health and Risk Communication Survey assessed a nationally representative sample of Australian adults (N = 1296) fortnightly for 12 weeks from late-March to June 2020 (7 waves), and again in March 2021 (wave 8). Cox proportional hazards models examined demographic and pandemic-related risk factors for suicidal ideation over time.

Results: Prevalence of suicidal ideation was high but steady at ∼18% across the acute lockdown phase of the pandemic, and 16.2% in March 2021. People who had direct experience with COVID-19 (tested, diagnosed, or contact with someone who was diagnosed) had increased risk for suicidal ideation. Higher pandemic-related work and social impairment, recent adversity, loneliness, and being younger were also associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation over time.

Conclusion: Both the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 were associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation over time, although prevalence did not vary over time. The high prevalence of suicidal ideation in our sample flags a critical need for accessible mental health support, and findings provide insights into the factors placing people at risk during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Social support; Suicidal ideation; Suicide.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Kaplan-Meier curves of the proportion of the sample reporting suicidal ideation in the first 12 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the complete sample (N=1296) and by age group. Note: crosses (+) indicate censored observations, shading indicates 95% confidence interval for total sample.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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