Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The burden of suicidal behavior is anticipated to increase as a sequela of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited evidence on suicidal behavior among healthcare workers, an at-risk population. Our study aimed to investigate suicidal ideation in terms of the rate and associated factors in a sample of Malaysian healthcare workers during the early-phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A subpopulation analysis (N = 171) was conducted within a larger, nation-wide cross-sectional study of Malaysian healthcare worker psychological distress from March 18–21, 2020. Current suicidal ideation was measured with item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The following independent variables were assessed: socio-demographic profile, occupation and service-related factors, health-anxiety (Health Anxiety Inventory, HAI), lifetime anxiety disorder and severity of depression (PHQ-9).Results: The proportion of healthcare workers with current suicidal ideation (19/171) and clinical depression (17/171) were 11.1 and 9.9%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that clinical depression was the most significant factor associated with current suicidal ideation (p < 0.001, OR = 55.983, 95% CI = 9.015–347.671) followed by mild (subthreshold) depression (p = 0.001, OR = 115.984, 95% CI = 2.977–85.804). Service duration of more than 10 years was associated with significantly less suicidal ideation (p = 0.049, OR = 0.072, 95% CI = 0.005–0.993).Conclusions: Depression (subthreshold and especially within the clinical range) and early-career status (<10 years in service) may be target areas of early intervention for reduction of suicidal ideation amongst healthcare workers who have served during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is warranted to elucidate specific occupational stressors related to COVID-19 work conditions to tailor appropriate suicide preventive strategies in this population.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Psychiatric Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Malaysian Perspective

“…This study revealed that for every added year of working in the psychiatric department, a person’s odds of developing depression reduced by around 15%. The findings coincided with a local study by Sahimi et al [ 45 ] who, when evaluating the risk of suicidal ideation amongst HCWs serving during the pandemic, found that individuals with early career status (<10 years in service) were significantly at risk of having suicidal ideations compared to senior HCWs. The protective effect of having a longer service in the psychiatric department could be because of the lengthier work experience, higher salary, improved coping skills and better resilience.…”

The Cross-Sectional Relations of COVID-19 Fear and Stress to Psychological Distress among Frontline Healthcare Workers in Selangor, Malaysia

“…The prevalence of risk of depression was found to be 67.1% in anesthetists from a Malaysian COVID-19 referral hospital [ 31 ]. In other studies, the prevalence rates ranged from 11.1% to 31.6% for anxiety and from 9.9% to 21.8% for depression [ 32 , 33 ]. Only large-scale data involving local, non-frontline university populations are currently available [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Suicide in Healthcare Workers: Determinants, Challenges, and the Impact of COVID-19

“…The lack of standard treatment protocols or vaccines, work-related stress, the rapid spread of the virus, and fear of COVID-19 infection and transmission are major contributing factors leading to mental health disorders (44,45). According to a study conducted among Malaysian HCWs, clinical depression has been the most significant predictor of present suicidal ideation, followed by mild (subthreshold) depression (46). Furthermore, it should be highlighted that female HCWs have appeared to be at a higher risk of suicidal behavior than their male counterparts during the current pandemic (47).…”