Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Japan has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates, while the annual suicide rate in 2020 has risen for the first time since 2007. This study aimed to identify high-risk populations and assess the impact of medical visits on suicide trends post-COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Method

This quasi-experimental study analyzed a population-based database from Hyogo Prefecture (2012-2022). Interrupted time-series analyses identified level and trend changes in monthly suicide rates per 1 million population during the exposure period (2020-2022) versus the control period (2012-2019). Regular visits to primary care and psychiatry stratified analysis.

Results

2181 cases were analyzed, with two-thirds male and a median age of 54. Primary care physicians and psychiatric histo

SUBMITTER: Miyamori D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11756082 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature