How Did COVID-19 Affect Suicidality? Data from a Multicentric Study in Lombardy.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented public health challenges.
• Suicidal behavior is a significant public health concern, potentially exacerbated by societal stressors.
• Understanding emergency department (ED) access for suicidality during health crises is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize individuals presenting to emergency departments for suicidal behavior during the initial COVID-19 epidemic wave.
• To compare these characteristics with data from the same period in the preceding year (pre-COVID-19).
• To identify potential shifts in demographics, clinical factors, and outcomes related to suicidality during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of emergency department visits for suicidality.
• Data collection from three EDs in Lombardy, Italy.
• Comparison of data from March 8–June 3, 2020 (COVID-19 wave) with March 8–June 3, 2019.

Main Results:

• A significantly higher proportion of ED visits for suicidality occurred during the 2020 COVID-19 wave compared to 2019 (17.2% vs. 13.0%).
• No significant differences were observed in sex, triage priority, substance abuse history, triggering factors, or discharge diagnoses between the two years.
• In 2020, a larger percentage of individuals presenting with suicidality had no prior mental health disorders and were not taking psychotropic medications.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic's first wave was associated with an increased rate of emergency department presentations for suicidal behavior.
• Specific demographic and clinical profiles of individuals seeking help for suicidality may have shifted during the pandemic.
• Findings underscore the need for adaptive mental health support strategies during public health emergencies and infectious outbreaks.