Calls with suicidality and psychological distress to a national helpline during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examines the psychological distress and suicide-related calls to Israel's national crisis helpline (ERAN) in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluating the impact of COVID-19 public health measures, including lockdowns and vaccination rollouts. The analysis, covering over a million calls, investigating trends in call volume associated with policy shifts. Findings indicate an initial peak in distress calls, which gradually declined, stabilizing after vaccines became available. Suicide-related calls increased at a slower rate and later dropped, following vaccine rollout. Lockdowns were correlated with heightened general distress, but not with an increase in suicide-related calls.

The findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and support for populations at risk of suicide, as suicidal tendencies can emerge gradually, lagging after the emotional distress. These results underscore the critical role of public health measures in mitigating mental health outcomes during national health crises, potentially offering policymakers valuable insights for future pandemic response planning.