Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide-Attempt Survivors

Martina Fruhbauerova (), Julie Cerel, Athena Kheibari, Alice Edwards, Jessica Stohlmann-Rainey and Dese’Rae Stage
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Martina Fruhbauerova: Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Kastle Hall, 106B, 503 Library Dr, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
Julie Cerel: College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, 619 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
Athena Kheibari: School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Alice Edwards: College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, 619 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
Jessica Stohlmann-Rainey: Solutions by Jess, 3505 N Elizabeth St., Denver, CO 80205, USA
Dese’Rae Stage: Live Through This Productions, LLC, 2310 Mercer St., Philadelphia, PA 19125, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Despite initial concerns about the severe negative impact of COVID-19 on individuals with a history of mental health problems and suicide attempts, its effects remain unclear. This study examined the pandemic’s impact on individuals with and without lived experience of suicide attempts. An online nationwide sample of 1351 adults from the United States completed questionnaires from 26 May to 25 June 2021. A history of suicide attempt(s) (n = 159; 12%) was associated with significantly higher odds of utilizing mental health services, hospitalization for psychiatric reasons, and contacting hotlines. This history predicted worse outcomes in functioning, optimism, despair, and impairment. Notably, 57.6% of these individuals believed surviving a suicide attempt made them more resilient, while 21.9% expressed uncertainty about its impact on their resilience. In sum, participants with a history of suicide attempt(s) reported more depressive symptoms, worse daily functioning, more despair, less optimism, and greater service utilization during the pandemic, yet many also cited increased resilience due to their suicide history.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; lived experience; suicide-attempt survivor; resiliency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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