@article{ref1,
title="The impact of infectious disease-related public health emergencies on suicide, suicidal behavior, and suicidal thoughts",
journal="Crisis",
year="2020",
author="Zortea, Tiago C. and Brenna, Connor T. A. and Joyce, Mary and McClelland, Heather and Tippett, Marisa and Tran, Maxwell M. and Arensman, Ella and Corcoran, Paul and Hatcher, Simon and Heise, Marnin J. and Links, Paul and O'Connor, Rory C. and Edgar, Nicole E. and Cha, Yevin and Guaiana, Giuseppe and Williamson, Eileen and Sinyor, Mark and Platt, Stephen",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Infectious disease-related public health emergencies (epidemics) may increase suicide risk, and high-quality evidence is needed to guide an international response. Aims: We investigated the potential impacts of epidemics on suicide-related outcomes. <br><br>METHOD: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PsyArXiv, medRxiv, and bioRxiv from inception to May 13-16, 2020. Inclusion criteria: primary studies, reviews, and meta-analyses; reporting the impact of epidemics; with a primary outcome of suicide, suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation, and/or self-harm. Exclusion criteria: not concerned with suicide-related outcomes; not suitable for data extraction. PROSPERO registration: #CRD42020187013. <br><br>RESULTS: Eight primary papers were included, examining the effects of five epidemics on suicide-related outcomes. There was evidence of increased suicide rates among older adults during SARS and in the year following the epidemic (possibly motivated by social disconnectedness, fears of virus infection, and concern about burdening others) and associations between SARS/Ebola exposure and increased suicide attempts. A preprint study reported associations between COVID-19 distress and past-month suicidal ideation. Limitations: Few studies have investigated the topic; these are of relatively low methodological quality. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Findings support an association between previous epidemics and increased risk of suicide-related outcomes. Research is needed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on suicide outcomes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0227-5910",
doi="10.1027/0227-5910/a000753",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000753"
}