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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Suicidal Behaviors: A Retrospective Analysis of Integrated Electronic Health Records in a Population of 7.5 Million

Author

Listed:
  • Damià Valero-Bover

    (Catalan Health Service, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159 Edifici Olímpia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Healthcare System DS3—IDIBELL, Gran via de l’Hospitalet Número 199-203, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain)

  • Marc Fradera

    (Department of Mental Health, University Hospital ParcTaulí, Parc Tauí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Unitat Mixta de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc-UAB, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Edifici Santa Fe, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Gerard Carot-Sans

    (Catalan Health Service, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159 Edifici Olímpia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Healthcare System DS3—IDIBELL, Gran via de l’Hospitalet Número 199-203, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain)

  • Isabel Parra

    (Department of Mental Health, University Hospital ParcTaulí, Parc Tauí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Unitat Mixta de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc-UAB, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Edifici Santa Fe, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Jordi Piera-Jiménez

    (Catalan Health Service, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159 Edifici Olímpia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Healthcare System DS3—IDIBELL, Gran via de l’Hospitalet Número 199-203, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
    Faculty of Informatics, Multimedia and Telecommunications, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Rambla de Poblenou 156, 08018 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Caridad Pontes

    (Catalan Health Service, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159 Edifici Olímpia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Healthcare System DS3—IDIBELL, Gran via de l’Hospitalet Número 199-203, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
    Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici M Campus de la UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Diego Palao

    (Department of Mental Health, University Hospital ParcTaulí, Parc Tauí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Unitat Mixta de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc-UAB, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Edifici Santa Fe, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused remarkable psychological overwhelming and an increase in stressors that may trigger suicidal behaviors. However, its impact on the rate of suicidal behaviors has been poorly reported. We conducted a population-based retrospective analysis of all suicidal behaviors attended in healthcare centers of Catalonia (northeast Spain; 7.5 million inhabitants) between January 2017 and June 2022 (secondary use of data routinely reported to central suicide and diagnosis registries). We retrieved data from this period, including an assessment of suicide risk and individuals’ socioeconomic as well as clinical characteristics. Data were summarized yearly and for the periods before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain in March 2020. The analysis included 26,458 episodes of suicidal behavior (21,920 individuals); of these, 16,414 (62.0%) were suicide attempts. The monthly moving average ranged between 300 and 400 episodes until July 2020, and progressively increased to over 600 episodes monthly. In the postpandemic period, suicidal ideation increased at the expense of suicidal attempts. Cases showed a lower suicide risk; the percentage of females and younger individuals increased, whereas the prevalence of classical risk factors, such as living alone, lacking a family network, and a history of psychiatric diagnosis, decreased. In summary, suicidal behaviors have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more episodes of suicidal ideation without attempts in addition to younger and lower risk profiles.

Suggested Citation

  • Damià Valero-Bover & Marc Fradera & Gerard Carot-Sans & Isabel Parra & Jordi Piera-Jiménez & Caridad Pontes & Diego Palao, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Suicidal Behaviors: A Retrospective Analysis of Integrated Electronic Health Records in a Population of 7.5 Million," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14364-:d:961632
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    Cited by:

    1. Rebeca Gracia-Liso & Maria J. Portella & Joaquim Puntí-Vidal & Elena Pujals-Altés & Jordi Torralbas-Ortega & Marta Llorens & Montserrat Pamias & Marc Fradera-Jiménez & Itziar Montalvo-Aguirrezabala & , 2023. "COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed the Psychiatric Profile of Adolescents Attempting Suicide: A Cross-Sectional Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.

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