Suicide, self-harm and thoughts of suicide or self-harm in infectious disease epidemics: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONCLUSIONS: There is little robust evidence on the association of infectious epidemics with suicide, self-harm and thoughts of suicide or self-harm. There was an increase in suicides among the elderly in Hong Kong during SARS and no change in suicides among young people in Japan during COVID-19, but it is unclear how far these findings may be generalised. The development of up-to-date self-harm and suicide statistics to monitor the effect of the current pandemic is an urgent priority.PMID:33902775 | DOI:10.1017/S2045796021000214

Source: Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences - April 27, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Authors: J P Rogers E Chesney D Oliver N Begum A Saini S Wang P McGuire P Fusar-Poli G Lewis A S David Source Type: research