Factors associated with fewer than expected suicides in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

Chien Yu Lin; Chia Yueh Hsu; David Gunnell; Shu Sen Chang

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103379

Factors associated with fewer than expected suicides in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

Chien Yu Lin, Chia Yueh Hsu, David Gunnell, Shu Sen Chang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, outbreak control measures, and their consequences may worsen mental health and increase suicide risk. However, a study using data from 33 countries showed no increase in suicide in most countries studied during the first 9–15 months of the pandemic (Pirkis et al., 2022). Possible reasons for this lack of an impact on suicide rates are unclear. Further investigations using robust methodologies are required (Kahil et al., 2021, Tandon, 2021). We investigated changes in suicide trends and related them to the indicators of economic and outbreak control measures in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Original language	English
Article number	103379
Journal	Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	80
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103379
Publication status	Published - Feb 2023

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic
Suicide
Suicide methods
Taiwan

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103379

Cite this

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title = "Factors associated with fewer than expected suicides in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020",

abstract = "The COVID-19 pandemic, outbreak control measures, and their consequences may worsen mental health and increase suicide risk. However, a study using data from 33 countries showed no increase in suicide in most countries studied during the first 9–15 months of the pandemic (Pirkis et al., 2022). Possible reasons for this lack of an impact on suicide rates are unclear. Further investigations using robust methodologies are required (Kahil et al., 2021, Tandon, 2021). We investigated changes in suicide trends and related them to the indicators of economic and outbreak control measures in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.",

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note = "Funding Information: The study was in part supported by the project entitled “Health Policy Response to the Impacts Caused by Severe and Special Infectious Pneumonia (COVID-19)” (grant number NTU-111L881001). CYH was supported by Wan Fang Hospital ( 110-swf-07 and 111-wf-swf-04 ), Taipei Medical University ( TMU108-AE1-B57 ), and Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 110–2628-B-038–016 and NSTC 111–2628-B-038–026 ). SSC was supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (grant number MOST 109–2314-B-002–144-MY3 ). DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Research or the Department of Health and Social Care. ",

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AU - Gunnell, David

AU - Chang, Shu Sen

N1 - Funding Information: The study was in part supported by the project entitled “Health Policy Response to the Impacts Caused by Severe and Special Infectious Pneumonia (COVID-19)” (grant number NTU-111L881001). CYH was supported by Wan Fang Hospital ( 110-swf-07 and 111-wf-swf-04 ), Taipei Medical University ( TMU108-AE1-B57 ), and Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 110–2628-B-038–016 and NSTC 111–2628-B-038–026 ). SSC was supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (grant number MOST 109–2314-B-002–144-MY3 ). DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Research or the Department of Health and Social Care.

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N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic, outbreak control measures, and their consequences may worsen mental health and increase suicide risk. However, a study using data from 33 countries showed no increase in suicide in most countries studied during the first 9–15 months of the pandemic (Pirkis et al., 2022). Possible reasons for this lack of an impact on suicide rates are unclear. Further investigations using robust methodologies are required (Kahil et al., 2021, Tandon, 2021). We investigated changes in suicide trends and related them to the indicators of economic and outbreak control measures in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

AB - The COVID-19 pandemic, outbreak control measures, and their consequences may worsen mental health and increase suicide risk. However, a study using data from 33 countries showed no increase in suicide in most countries studied during the first 9–15 months of the pandemic (Pirkis et al., 2022). Possible reasons for this lack of an impact on suicide rates are unclear. Further investigations using robust methodologies are required (Kahil et al., 2021, Tandon, 2021). We investigated changes in suicide trends and related them to the indicators of economic and outbreak control measures in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

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KW - Suicide methods

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Factors associated with fewer than expected suicides in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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