Suicidal Behaviours During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Review

Abstract

Objective: Novel COVID-19 disease has become a major concern worldwide, and a recent line of research warned that the context of the COVID-19 pandemic may be a major risk factor for developing severe suicidal behaviors. A broad systematic review is needed to cover the studies that have already assessed the potential underlying factors for suicidal behaviors in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Method: A total of 52 studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were then described according to the subsequent categories: (1) countries where the studies were carried out; (2) factors impacting suicidal behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak; and (3) examination of the observed populations.

Results: Findings of the current systematic review suggest that there is a certain amount of heterogeneity in factors impacting suicidal behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak, with economic downturn, psychiatric vulnerability, isolation and quarantine, health concerns, and relational difficulties being the most prominent reasons for developing suicidal behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Conclusions: Timely interventions are needed to prevent suicidal behaviors in both the clinical and general populations, and in this regard, the creation of standard procedures may speed up the process.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemic; suicidal behaviors.

Figure 1.

Flow diagram in line with PRISMA guidelines (Liberati et al., 2009)