REMOVED: COVID 2019-suicides: A global psychological pandemic

Abstract

COVID 2019-suicides: A global psychological pandemic An inspiring editorial by Montemurro (2020) entitled "The emotional impact of COVID-19: From medical staff to common people" recently published in the 'Brain, Behavior, and Immunity' motivated us to pen down a concise yet, informative viewpoint entitled "COVID-2019-suicides: A global psychological pandemic". 24,81,026 is the fearsome and huge number of COVID-19 cases with 1,70,423 deaths being reported from around the world (https:// www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) is complicating the situation and difficult to control. The realization of the non-availability of vaccine and/or effective antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2 virus, and understanding that social distancing and quarantine/self-isolation is the only available remedy to us, forced the governments of most of the countries to declare the nationwide lock down. So far the only advice or the option against the disastrous COVID-19 is screening of suspected person for SARS-CoV-2, if comes positive, then quarantine/self-isolation in addition to supportive treatment. However, few cases have been reported around the world where people out of fear of getting COVID-19 infection, social stigma, isolation, depression, anxiety, emotional imbalance, economic shutdown, lack and/or improper knowledge, financial and future insecurities took their lives. With recent suicide reports we can anticipate the rippling effect of this virus on worldwide suicide events. However, the basic psychology and inability of the person and the mass society to deal with the situation are the major factors behind these COVID-19 suicides pandemic.

Mental health research in the lower-middle-income countries of Africa and Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

“…Self-harm and general psychological well-being have also been evaluated ( Thakur & Jain, 2020 ). Fear, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and precipitate suicidal attempts due to COVID-19 related information overload by media have also been highlighted in case studies ( Dsouza, Quadros, Hyderabadwala, & Mamun, 2020 ).…”

SARS-CoV-2 and nervous system: From pathogenesis to clinical manifestation

“…A recent study ( Brown et al, 2020 ) reports an incidence of psychosis in infected patients between 0.9% and 4% versus a median value of 15.2 (7.7–43.0) per 100,000 previously described ( McGrath et al, 2004 ). Increased rates of suicide have been also reported, with possible contributing factors found in the social isolation/distancing, economic recession and social discrimination ( Thakur and Jain, 2020 ).…”

Health Behavior Changes During COVID-19 Pandemic and Subsequent “Stay-at-Home” Orders

“…Early evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting sleep patterns, possibly owing to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms [ 23 , 24 ]. Early evidence also points to moderate-to-severe stress and economic insecurity experienced at a large scale [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], and experts warn of the potential for crises related increases in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco products, and other potentially addictive substances [ 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”