Is Suicidality Increased in Covid-19 Pandemic? A Scoping Review and Quality Assessment

Abstract

Background: There are emerging concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic may specifically increase suicide. Methods: Scoping Review in the MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Science Direct databases and in the medRxiv, bioRxiv and PsyArXiv preprint servers, using the descriptors “Covid-19”, “coronavirus infection”, “coronavirus”, “2019-nCoV”, “2019 new coronavirus disease”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Suicide”, “General Public” and “Mental Health”. Results: A total of 62 studies were included in this review, where 10 studies were reported to have been conducted between March and May 2021; 39 in 2020; 4 in 2019; 3 in 2018; 1 in 2015; 2 in 2014; 2 in 2010 and 1 in 2004, all were conducted via online platforms. Limitations: We have interpreted our study findings in the context of the overall significant risk of exposure to suicide in our study population, while recognizing that individual level data of exposure to COVID-19 is a significant confounding variable. Conclusions: Being one of the first reviews in this context, the findings are anticipated to be helpful to predict the possible solutions for reducing the number of suicides in and facilitate further studies on strategies of how to alleviate such a stressful situation in COVID-19.