Citation

Nuertey BD, Mumuni K, Addai J, Kunfah S, Attibu RI, Acquah D, Ekremet K, Haidallah AR, Mahama IB, Adjah DT, Damah M, Abubakari BB. Pan. Afr. Med. J. 2022; 41: 245.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, African Field Epidemiology Network)

DOI

10.11604/pamj.2022.41.245.29660

PMID

35734314

PMCID

PMC9187986

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our way of life and continue to exert significant psychological impact. A surge in suicide has been associated with all previous major epidemics and pandemics. The suicide rate associated with COVID-19 pandemic would continue increasing if urgent measures are not put in place. We report two cases of attempted suicide among confirmed COVID-19 patients. The first case is a 30-year-old nurse who attempted suicide in an isolation facility and the second case is a 43-year-old male who travelled with his wife and a trusted friend from Burkina-Faso to Ghana to access haemodialysis care for his wife in a COVID-19 pandemic era. Unfortunately, the couple tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We discussed interventions to prevent suicide in treatment facilities. We recommend psychological assessment and counselling for all COVID-19 patients. We also recommend social interaction among patients in the isolation or treatment centres, and active management of COVID-19 related stigma and misinformation. Screening for means of suicide should be conducted in treatment facilities. Pre-test and post-test counselling are essential interventions. Also, telemedicine, telephone calls, computer assisted psychotherapy, mobile applications, self-guided digital interventions have been identified as effective tools for administering psychotherapeutic interventions to COVID-19 patients particularly in instances where face-to-face may not be possible.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Humans; Male; Suicide; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; psychological; *COVID-19/diagnosis/therapy; *Telemedicine; case report; Pandemics/prevention & control; Suicide, Attempted/prevention & control