Suicide Thoughts and Attempts in the Norwegian General Population during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Outbreak

Tore Bonsaksen, Laila Skogstad, Trond Heir, Øivind Ekeberg, Inger Schou-Bredal and Tine K. Grimholt
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Tore Bonsaksen: Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
Laila Skogstad: Department of Research, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital HF, 1453 Bjørnemyr, Norway
Trond Heir: Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, 0484 Oslo, Norway
Øivind Ekeberg: Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
Inger Schou-Bredal: Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Tine K. Grimholt: Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 0370 Oslo, Norway

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-9

Abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts during the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak and examine pandemic-related factors associated with suicide thoughts in the general Norwegian population. A sample of 4527 adults living in Norway were recruited via social media. Data related to suicide thoughts and attempts, alcohol use, pandemic-related concerns, and sociodemographic variables were collected. Associations with suicide thoughts were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. In the sample, 3.6% reported suicide thoughts during the last month, while 0.2% had attempted suicide during the same period. Previous suicide attempts (OR: 11.93, p < 0.001), lower age (OR: 0.69, p < 0.001), daily alcohol use (OR: 3.31, p < 0.001), being in the risk group for COVID-19 complications (OR: 2.15, p < 0.001), and having economic concerns related to the pandemic (OR: 2.28, p < 0.001) were associated with having current suicide thoughts. In addition to known risk factors, the study suggests that aspects specific to COVID-19 may be important for suicidal behaviors during the pandemic.

Keywords: coronavirus; pandemic; population survey; suicidal behavior; suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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