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Have Deaths of Despair Risen during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Systematic Review

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  • Hania Rahimi-Ardabili

    (Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
    Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Wollongong 2522, Australia
    School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Xiaoqi Feng

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Wollongong 2522, Australia
    School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
    School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia)

  • Phi-Yen Nguyen

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Wollongong 2522, Australia
    School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
    School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia)

  • Thomas Astell-Burt

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Wollongong 2522, Australia
    School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia)

Abstract

This systematic review synthesized literature on potential impacts of protracted isolation and other disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic on deaths of despair (suicide, overdoses, and drug-related liver diseases). Five electronic databases were searched yielding 70 eligible articles. Extant evidence mostly from high-income countries indicates COVID-19-related disruption may not have influenced suicide rates so far, but there have been reports of increased drug-related and liver disease mortality. Minority groups and women were more vulnerable, indicating the need for stronger equity focus on pandemic recovery and resilience strategies. Further high-quality studies with longer-term follow-up, especially from low-income countries, will inform these strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng & Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt, 2022. "Have Deaths of Despair Risen during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12835-:d:935369
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Takanao Tanaka & Shohei Okamoto, 2021. "Increase in suicide following an initial decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(2), pages 229-238, February.
    2. Diez Roux, A.V., 2017. "Despair as a cause of death: More complex than it first appears," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(10), pages 1566-1567.
    3. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.304041_8 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Casey B. Mulligan, 2020. "Deaths of Despair and the Incidence of Excess Mortality in 2020," Working Papers 2020-185, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    5. Anne Case & Angua Deaton, 2015. "Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century," Working Papers 15078.full.pdf, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Research Program in Development Studies..
    6. Casey B. Mulligan, 2020. "Deaths of Despair and the Incidence of Excess Mortality in 2020," NBER Working Papers 28303, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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