Suicidal behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic: Results from cross-sectional surveys of Brazilian adults from 2020 to 2022

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the predictive capacity of fear of Covid-19, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and the variable pandemic year on suicidal behaviors in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. The total sample consisted of 7,735 adults from all regions of the country and over 1.300 Brazilian cities, with an average age of 34 years. The research instruments used were the Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire Scale (PHQ-9), and a question assessing the absence, presence of suicidal ideation, and suicide planning or attempts. Data analysis was conducted using multinomial logistic regression. The main findings showed that fear of Covid-19 (severe [OR = 0.696]), anxiety (mild [OR = 2.183], moderate [OR = 2.436], and severe [OR = 2.757]), and depression (mild [OR = 2.831], moderate [OR = 4.769], and severe [OR = 10.660]) were statistically significant in relation to suicidal ideation. As for suicide planning and attempts, predictors included year (2022 [OR = 1.297]), fear of Covid-19 (moderate [OR = 0.614] and severe [OR = 0.445]), anxiety (mild [OR = 2.253], moderate [OR = 2.988], and severe [OR = 3.577]), and depression (mild [OR = 3.021], moderate [OR = 8.189], and severe [OR = 40.363]). In conclusion, the effects of the pandemic need to continue to be monitored, as mental health surveillance data are crucial in guiding effective policies aimed at suicidal behavior,