An analysis of suicidal behavior in adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: gender and age aspects

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OBJECTIVE

To analyse the dynamics of suicidal behavior in Russian adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An analysis of suicidal behavior was carried out to study mortality rates caused by completed suicides and to find out the prevalence of intentional self-harm (ISH), suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA). Mortality data were obtained from the Database of demographic indicators for Russian regions over a period of 2015—2021. Data on the prevalence of ISH, SI, and SA were obtained from an anonymous survey of adolescents, using a questionnaire developed for Eurasian Child Mental Health Study (EACMHS) group (block «suicidality»). An anonymous survey of adolescents, aged 11—18 years, was carried out twice: in 2015—2021 (n=1723, 46.6% males, mean age 14.7±1.3 years) and November 2020 — July 2021 (n=1011, 47.1% males, mean age 15.3±1.4).

RESULTS

In 2021, the mortality rate from completed suicides increased among younger adolescents (10—14 years old) from 0.1 to 1.4 per 100 000 individuals, among older adolescents (15—19 years old) from 0.7 to 6.1 per 100 000 individuals compared to 2019. The highest rise in mortality was observed in girls aged 10—14 (from 0.1 to 1.6 per 100 000). The prevalence for various types of suicidal behavior increased in adolescents aged 11—14 years, especially among girls, with the SI frequency increasing by 63% (p<0.05), SA — by 15.4%, suicidal ISH — by 23.7%.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the suicidal behavior of adolescents with the need for preventive measures for specialists.

Keywords:

suicide

adolescents

COVID-19 pandemic

Authors:

Semenova N.B.

Krasnoyarsk Scientific Centre of Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences — Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North

ORCID: 0000-0002-6120-7860

Slobodskaya E.R.

Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine

ORCID: 0000-0003-2076-0691

Rezun E.V.

Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine

ORCID: 0000-0003-3431-3948

Received:

29.09.2022

Accepted:

15.03.2023

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