Suicidal ideation and attempts increased significantly as a result of the lockdown in Spain
Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts increased significantly in the Spanish region of Catalonia due to the pandemic, a recent study suggests.
The study, published in Lancet Psychiatry, looks at data from Catalonian hospitals across three periods: pre-lockdown (1 January 2018 until the implementation of the Spanish lockdown ion 14 March 2020); the lockdown (14 March 2020 until June 21 2020); and post-lockdown (21 June 20202 to 31 December 2022).
The results show a modest increase in suicidal ideation and attempts in the pre-lockdown period, followed by a reduction during the lockdown, and then a 50.77% increase after the lockdowns were lifted.
“The initial reduction during the strict quarantine may be explained because people have less access to methods of suicide, among other reasons,” explains the study lead author, Dr. Víctor Serrano-Gimeno.
“And the subsequent increase after the lockdown reflects complex factors, including social isolation and economic challenges.”
The lifting of the lockdown led to a significant increase in non-lethal suicidal behaviour among women aged 18 to 30 and among under 18s of both sexes.
The authors of the study note that the potential and actual psychological effects of the lockdown were not given enough consideration by experts and policymakers.
Dr. Narcís Cardoner explains: “It’s interesting that throughout the pandemic, physical health was markedly prioritized. And all strategies, for example, the lockdown itself, were aimed at reducing the risk of people getting infected with the virus. But we knew that the impact of these situations would go beyond. And there’s always talk of a fourth wave, which is the mental health problem. And it seems that we were somewhat oblivious to this situation.
“Data like those derived from this study say that physical health is very important, but there is no health without mental health, and it would have been essential to have made some provision for these impacts.”
Numerous studies have revealed the profound effects psychological effects of the pandemic’s social restrictions, especially on vulnerable demographics like children and teenagers.
One study showed that the stress of the pandemic caused teenagers’ brains to age three years in just ten months.
Levels of anxiety and depression among children and teenagers soared during the pandemic. A meta-analysis of 29 separate studies from Asia, Europe, the Americas and Middle East showed that depression and anxiety symptoms doubled in children and teenagers during the pandemic. Older teenagers and girls, in particular, experienced the most significant increases in symptoms.
Breaking Exclusive! Tucker Carlson Breaks The Internet In Powerful Interview With Alex Jones
