Suicidal ideation across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark - identifying vulnerable subgroups using...

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions might have increased suicidal ideation and behaviors. This study measured suicidal ideation and associated factors in the general Danish adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using repeated cross-sectional Danish adult data from The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT, online anonymous survey, three waves in Denmark, including also representative samples), we estimated self-reported suicidal ideation prevalences during the three waves, and their association with demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological characteristics in multivariable analyses for each wave and pooled across all waves.

We included 2286, 1041, and 1039 individuals (age = 18-86, females = 52 %-55 %) from waves I (1-31/05/2020), II (11-20/01/2021), and III (14-20/01/2022). The prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in wave I (42 %) than in waves II (30 %, p < 0.001) and III (28 %, p < 0.001). Odds for suicidal ideation were higher in those with loneliness, financial loss and prior suicidal attempts consistently across all three waves (range OR = 4.91; 95%CI = 4.02-5.99 to OR = 1.84; 95%CI = 1.42-2.39). Also, men, respondents with low and medium educational level, and those with a history of mental illness had higher odds of suicidal ideation, yet not consistently across waves. In multivariable analyses across pooled waves, suicidal ideation was associated (in descending order) with loneliness, financial loss, low-medium educational level, prior attempted suicide, history of mental illness, male sex, and younger age.

COH-FIT Danish data identified groups vulnerable to suicidal ideation, especially early during the pandemic, with specific demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological characteristics, calling for targeted early interventions during crisis times.