Citation

Mukhtar F, Candilis P. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2022; 210(10): 799-807.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0000000000001536

PMID

36179374

Abstract

In its mortality and global reach, COVID-19 is among the worst pandemics to hit the globe since the 1918 influenza. During a pandemic, it is not uncommon for deaths from suicide to be downplayed as communities respond to the immediate mortality of the disease. In this analysis, we review pandemic history to uncover its impact on suicide rates, a frequent proxy for community mental health, and whether public health responses were effective. We incorporate lessons from more than 100 years of epidemics to assess whether the current public health response can benefit from the lessons of history.

Language: en