Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have reported increased suicidality. The widespread negative impacts of the pandemic, such as the economic downturn, isolation, and quarantine, have contributed to the complex interaction of factors influencing suicidal behavior. This study ai...

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Main Authors: Buket Koparal, Mehmet Ünler, Hande Gazey, Berfu Ünal, Hatice Cansu Selvi, Selçuk Candansayar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Publishing House 2025-01-01
Series:Gazi Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://gazimedj.com/articles/effect-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-emergency-service-suicide-applications-in-a-tertiary-psychiatric-clinic-in-turkiye/doi/gmj.2024.4113
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author Buket Koparal
Mehmet Ünler
Hande Gazey
Berfu Ünal
Hatice Cansu Selvi
Selçuk Candansayar
author_facet Buket Koparal
Mehmet Ünler
Hande Gazey
Berfu Ünal
Hatice Cansu Selvi
Selçuk Candansayar
author_sort Buket Koparal
collection DOAJ
description Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have reported increased suicidality. The widespread negative impacts of the pandemic, such as the economic downturn, isolation, and quarantine, have contributed to the complex interaction of factors influencing suicidal behavior. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of individuals with suicidal thoughts/attempts between the pandemic and the pre-pandemic period. Methods: This descriptive study retrospectively evaluated the data of patients between 2018 and 2022. The period from March 2020 to March 2022 was defined as the “pandemic period”, while the period from March 2018 to March 2020 was labeled as the “pre-pandemic period”. While 185 patients applied to the emergency department due to suicidal thoughts/attempts in the pre-pandemic period, the number of cases consulted during the pandemic was 150. Results: During the COVID-19 period, 21% of patients were evaluated due to suicidal thoughts/attempts. In the pre-pandemic period, this rate was approximately 20%. There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of age, suicide method, or lifetime psychiatric diagnoses. The proportion of males who presented with suicidality during COVID-19 was significantly higher. Conclusion: Pandemics can create social trauma and increase suicide rates. Gender roles, such as men being more inclined to conceal their complaints and feeling more economically responsible, may have increased the rates of suicidality during the pandemic. The mental, physical, and social impacts of the pandemic should be assessed in this context, and necessary precautions and interventions should be planned.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Gazi Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-f4454b5dd29e48a9ae201c4b6a5ec9c62025-01-13T11:34:20ZengGalenos Publishing HouseGazi Medical Journal2147-20922025-01-01361455110.12996/gmj.2024.4113Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in TürkiyeBuket Koparal0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1874-270XMehmet Ünler1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7782-2844Hande Gazey2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5157-2936Berfu Ünal3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1573-0829Hatice Cansu Selvi4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5913-5458Selçuk Candansayar5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7708-3321Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TürkiyeClinic of Psychiatry, Gaziantep Deva Hospital, Gaziantep, TürkiyeDepartment of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TürkiyeClinic of Psychiatry, Sincan Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TürkiyeObjective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have reported increased suicidality. The widespread negative impacts of the pandemic, such as the economic downturn, isolation, and quarantine, have contributed to the complex interaction of factors influencing suicidal behavior. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of individuals with suicidal thoughts/attempts between the pandemic and the pre-pandemic period. Methods: This descriptive study retrospectively evaluated the data of patients between 2018 and 2022. The period from March 2020 to March 2022 was defined as the “pandemic period”, while the period from March 2018 to March 2020 was labeled as the “pre-pandemic period”. While 185 patients applied to the emergency department due to suicidal thoughts/attempts in the pre-pandemic period, the number of cases consulted during the pandemic was 150. Results: During the COVID-19 period, 21% of patients were evaluated due to suicidal thoughts/attempts. In the pre-pandemic period, this rate was approximately 20%. There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of age, suicide method, or lifetime psychiatric diagnoses. The proportion of males who presented with suicidality during COVID-19 was significantly higher. Conclusion: Pandemics can create social trauma and increase suicide rates. Gender roles, such as men being more inclined to conceal their complaints and feeling more economically responsible, may have increased the rates of suicidality during the pandemic. The mental, physical, and social impacts of the pandemic should be assessed in this context, and necessary precautions and interventions should be planned.https://gazimedj.com/articles/effect-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-emergency-service-suicide-applications-in-a-tertiary-psychiatric-clinic-in-turkiye/doi/gmj.2024.4113covid-19depressionemergency servicepandemicsuicidal attemptsuicidal ideation
spellingShingle Buket Koparal
Mehmet Ünler
Hande Gazey
Berfu Ünal
Hatice Cansu Selvi
Selçuk Candansayar
Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye
Gazi Medical Journal
covid-19
depression
emergency service
pandemic
suicidal attempt
suicidal ideation
title Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye
title_full Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye
title_fullStr Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye
title_full_unstemmed Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye
title_short Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Service Suicide Applications in a Tertiary Psychiatric Clinic in Türkiye
title_sort effect of covid 19 pandemic on emergency service suicide applications in a tertiary psychiatric clinic in turkiye
topic covid-19
depression
emergency service
pandemic
suicidal attempt
suicidal ideation
url https://gazimedj.com/articles/effect-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-emergency-service-suicide-applications-in-a-tertiary-psychiatric-clinic-in-turkiye/doi/gmj.2024.4113
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