TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Suicide in India during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
JO  - Journal of affective disorders
A1  - Arya, Vikas
A1  - Page, Andrew
A1  - Spittal, Matthew J.
A1  - Dandona, Rakhi
A1  - Vijayakuma, Lakshmi
A1  - Munasinghe, Sithum
A1  - John, Ann
A1  - Gunnell, David
A1  - Pirkis, Jane
A1  - Armstrong, Gregory
SP  - 215
EP  - 220
VL  - 307
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: There has been substantial discussion as to whether the mental health and socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic might impact suicide rates. Although India accounts for the largest proportion of global suicides, the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in this country are unknown. <br><br>METHODS: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data were used to calculate annual suicide rates for the period 2010-2020, stratified by sex and state. Rate Ratios (RRs) stratified by sex and state were calculated to estimate the extent of change in suicide rates. <br><br>RESULTS: Suicide rates in India generally showed a decreasing trend from 2010 until 2017, with the trend reversing after this period, particularly for males. Among males and females, the highest increase post 2017 was noted in 2020 (compared to 2017) (males: RR = 1.18 95% UI 1.17-1.19; females: RR = 1.05 95% UI 1.03-1.06).     LIMITATION: Suicide rates based on the NCRB data might be an underestimation of the true suicide rates. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Suicide rates in India increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and although the increase in suicide rates, especially among males, predates the pandemic, the increase in suicide rates was highest in 2020, compared to increases in previous years. Further research is warranted to understand the potential ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide in India.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0165-0327
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.066
ID  - ref1
ER  -