TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - COVID-19 as a context in suicide: early insights from Victoria, Australia
JO  - Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
A1  - Dwyer, Justin
A1  - Dwyer, Jeremy
A1  - Hiscock, Richard
A1  - O'Callaghan, Clare
A1  - Taylor, Keryn
A1  - Millar, Ciara
A1  - Lamb, Ashne
A1  - Bugeja, Lyndal
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To examine how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences may have influenced suicide in Victoria, Australia. <br><br>METHODS: A mixed methods study of consecutive Victorian suicide cases spanning 1 January 2015 to 31 January 2021. Interrupted time series analysis examined whether suicide frequency changed following the pandemic onset. Thematic analysis was undertaken of police reports in suicides linked with COVID-19 to try to understand how COVID-19 acted as a stressor. <br><br>RESULTS: The frequency of Victorian suicides did not change following the onset of COVID-19. Sixty COVID-linked suicides were identified, featuring three recurring themes: COVID-19 as a disturbance in the self, in relationships with others and institutions. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: While COVID-19 has not led to an increase in Victorian suicide frequency to date, it is an important background stressor that can erode one's wellbeing, sense of agency and connectedness to others. Implications for public health: Clinical interventions that serve to reconnect people with a sense of agency and seek to re-establish contact with significant others are indicated. Clinicians should ensure they are familiar with pathways for their patients to access government social and economic supports. A better understanding of how government interventions may be lessening psychological distress is needed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1326-0200
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13132
ID  - ref1
ER  -