The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations with suicidal behaviour in a tertiary hospital Emergency Centre in the Eastern Cape, South Africa-A cross-sectional analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Suicidal behaviour is a public health emergency, causing an estimated one million deaths globally each year. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour is not fully understood. This study aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations with suicidal behaviour at a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Method

This study was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients with fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviour who presented to Frere Hospital Emergency Centre in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The analysis included three study periods: August to October 2019 (pre-COVID-19), August to October 2020 (wave 1), and August to October 2021(wave 3).

Results

A total of 16 419 patients presented to the Frer

SUBMITTER: Els JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11438007 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature