Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and suicide rates in South Korea: A time-series analysis of its onset and end

Abstract

This study examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on suicide rates in South Korea by age and sex using an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis. We analyzed the monthly suicide mortality data from 2012 to 2023, covering 144 months across 16 sex- and age-specific groups. The study period was divided into three stages: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic. Regression models were constructed to assess changes in suicide rates at the onset and end of the pandemic while controlling for seasonality using sine and cosine terms. The results showed that overall suicide rates decreased during the pandemic compared with the pre- and post-pandemic periods. In men, there was no significant difference in the suicide rate or its slope before and after the pandemic. However, in women, the suicide rate increased at the beginning of the pandemic. Certain subgroups—including men in their 20 s and 70 s and women across several age groups—showed significant increases at the onset of the pandemic or rising trends during and after. Suicide rates steadily declined before the pandemic, while younger female groups showed rising trends even before their onset. Seasonal analysis revealed that suicide rates were lower in winter and higher during the rest of the year, with distinct seasonal patterns across age groups. This study highlights the differential impact of the pandemic on suicide trends across demographic groups.