@article{ref1,
title="Emergency dispatches for suicide attempts during the COVID-19 outbreak in Okayama, Japan: a descriptive epidemiological study",
journal="Journal of epidemiology",
year="2021",
author="Habu, Hiroshi and Takao, Soshi and Fujimoto, Ryohei and Naito, Hiromichi and Nakao, Atsunori and Yorifuji, Takashi",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Hardships associated with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can affect mental health, potentially leading to increased risk of suicide. We examined the relationship between the COVID-19 outbreak and suicide attempts in Okayama, Japan using information from emergency dispatches. <br><br>METHODS: This was a descriptive epidemiological study. We collected information on emergency dispatches in Okayama City and Kibichuo from March to August in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (n = 47,770 cases). We compared emergency dispatches and their demographic characteristics, especially focusing on suicide attempts, during these 3 years. <br><br>RESULTS: The number of emergency dispatches in 2020 decreased compared with the previous 2 years, while the number and proportion of emergency dispatches related to suicide attempts increased. This increase was more pronounced among women and those aged 25-49 years. Among women aged 25-49 years, there was a cumulative total of 43 suicide attempts in 2018 and 2019 and 73 suicide attempts in 2020. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The number and proportion of emergency dispatches related to suicide attempts increased in 2020 compared with the previous 2 years, especially among women and those aged 25-49 years. This increase may be partly explained by hardships such as economic losses or reduced social ties during the COVID-19 outbreak.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0917-5040",
doi="10.2188/jea.JE20210066",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2188/jea.JE20210066"
}