Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in Japan through December 2021: An interrupted time series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting mental health globally. While increased social cohesion may have initially decreased suicide risk, there are few reports on the long-term impact. We examined the impact of the pandemic on suicide by gender and age through December 2021 in Japan.

Methods

We analyzed trends in monthly suicide rates by age and gender from January 2016 to December 2021 using provisional mortality data in an interrupted time series analysis. We also considered linear trends in the pre-pandemic period and seasonal variations. Pandemic onset was defined as from April 2020. Estimated excess deaths by suicide that occurred during the pandemic were calculated.

Findings

Excess number of suicide deaths during the pandemic period was estimat

SUBMITTER: Yoshioka E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9150875 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature