Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts after Disaster and Mass Casualty Incidents in the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: After accidents and disasters, people suffer from mental disorders due to physical, economic and social injuries. These include anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Due to the fact that some of these measures can endanger a person’s life, it is important to pay attention to these psychological factors. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts after disasters in the world.
 Method: The present study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt after disaster in the world. Accordingly, all articles published English-language from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2020 were extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Psych Info, Science Direct and Google scholar and evaluated. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the fixed and random effects model in meta-analysis and Cochran test.
 Results: A total of 33 studies with a sample size of 61,180 people entered the meta-analysis process. Accordingly, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was estimated at 12.9% (CI95%: 10.3% -15.5%) in the whole population, 10.6% (CI95%: 6.1% - 15.0%) in males and 15.8% (CI95%: 10.0% - 21.6%) in females. Moreover, prevalence of suicide attempt after disasters was estimated at 8.8% (CI95%: 6.6% - 11.0%).
 Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt is high and prevalence of Suicide idea in women was about three times higher than in men.

Title page: psychometric properties of literacy of suicide scale (LOSS) in iranian population: long form

“…According to the results of the 2020 systematic review, the prevalence of suicide beliefs in the general population was 12.9%, with 15.8% among women and 5.2% among men. Also, the prevalence of suicide was 8.8% after a disaster [4]. The results of another systematic review in 2020 showed that the prevalence of suicide beliefs ranged from 9.7 to 58.3%, and the suicide rate ranged from 0.7 to 14.7% [5].…”

Changes in Suicide Rate Following Major Disasters in India

“…However, a meta-analysis and other studies have shown an increase in the suicide rates post-disaster. 2,3,7,8 A study from the USA reported that the suicide rate increased after severe floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, and the overall suicide rate increased by 13.8% during the four years…”

“…However, a meta-analysis and other studies have shown an increase in the suicide rates post-disaster. 2,3,7,8 A study from the USA reported that the suicide rate increased after severe floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, and the overall suicide rate increased by 13.8% during the four years of disaster. 6 In contrast, a study on the effect of the 2004 tsunami on suicide rates showed no significant difference between the mean number of deaths by suicide in the years preceding the tsunami and the year that followed.…”

Academic Procrastination, Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in University Students: A look during the Pandemic

“…At present, suicidal ideation is one of the main public health problems in the world ( 7 ) and is one of the external factors of death among young people aged 15 to 24 years, especially in university students ( 5 ), being the fourth cause of mortality among those aged 17 to 29 years ( 8 - 10 ). However, suicide is still considered to be multifactorial ( 11 , 12 ).…”

“…The World Health Organization, in a report in 2019 and in another in 2021 ( 12 ), mentions that about 800,000 people die by suicide every year. In addition, for every suicide there are more than 20 attempts, and every 40 seconds one person commits suicide.…”