Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world

Emily Eyles; Paul A Moran; Chukwudi Okolie; Dana Dekel; Catherine I A Macleod-Hall; Roger T. Webb; Lena Schmidt; Duleeka  Knipe; Mark Sinyor; Luke McGuinness; Ella Arensman; Keith Hawton; Rory C O'Connor; Nav Kapur; Siobhan O'Neill; Babatunde  Olorisade; Hung-Yuan Cheng; Julian P T Higgins; Ann John; David J Gunnell

doi:10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271

Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world

Emily Eyles^*
, Paul A Moran
, Chukwudi Okolie
, Dana Dekel
, Catherine I A Macleod-Hall
, Roger T. Webb
, Lena Schmidt
, Duleeka Knipe
, Mark Sinyor
, Luke McGuinness
, Ella Arensman
, Keith Hawton
, Rory C O'Connor
, Nav Kapur
, Siobhan O'Neill
, Babatunde Olorisade
, Hung-Yuan Cheng
, Julian P T Higgins
, Ann John
, David J Gunnell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

68 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of healthcare and social care workers, and its potential effect on suicidal thoughts and behaviour is of particular concern.

Methods
This systematic review identified and appraised the published literature that has reported on the impact of COVID-19 on suicidal thoughts and behaviour and self-harm amongst healthcare and social care workers worldwide up to May 31, 2021.

Results
Out of 37 potentially relevant papers identified, ten met our eligibility criteria. Our review has highlighted that the impact of COVID-19 has varied as a function of setting, working relationships, occupational roles, and psychiatric comorbidities.

Limitations
There have been no completed cohort studies comparing pre- and post-pandemic suicidal thoughts and behaviours. It is possible some papers may have been missed in the search.

Conclusions
The current quality of evidence pertaining to suicidal behaviour in healthcare workers is poor, and evidence is entirely absent for those working in social care. The clinical relevance of this work is to bring attention to what evidence exists, and to encourage, in practice, proactive approaches to interventions for improving healthcare and social care worker mental health.

Original language	English
Article number	100271
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Volume	6
Early online date	17 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271
Publication status	Published - 22 Nov 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Groups and Themes

SASH

Keywords

Suicidal thoughts and behaviour
COVID-19
Healthcare and social care workers

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271

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This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Elsevier at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271 . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Final published version, 420 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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The impact of COVID-19 on self-harm and suicidal behaviour: a living systematic review
Gunnell, D. J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Higgins, J. P. T. (Co-Principal Investigator), John, A. (Co-Principal Investigator), Knipe, D. (Co-Investigator), Webb, R. (Co-Investigator), Moran, P. (Collaborator), Schmidt, L. (Collaborator), Eyles, E. C. (Collaborator) & McGuinness, L. (Collaborator)
1/05/20 → 1/12/22
Project: Research

Cite this

Eyles, E., Moran, P. A., Okolie, C., Dekel, D., Macleod-Hall, C. I. A., Webb, R. T., Schmidt, L., Knipe, D., Sinyor, M., McGuinness, L., Arensman, E., Hawton, K., O'Connor, R. C., Kapur, N., O'Neill, S., Olorisade, B., Cheng, H.-Y., Higgins, J. P. T., John, A., & Gunnell, D. J. (2021). Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 6, Article 100271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271

@article{69016c869e2a42c8a88361a1de0c0fb2,

title = "Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world",

abstract = "Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of healthcare and social care workers, and its potential effect on suicidal thoughts and behaviour is of particular concern. Methods This systematic review identified and appraised the published literature that has reported on the impact of COVID-19 on suicidal thoughts and behaviour and self-harm amongst healthcare and social care workers worldwide up to May 31, 2021. Results Out of 37 potentially relevant papers identified, ten met our eligibility criteria. Our review has highlighted that the impact of COVID-19 has varied as a function of setting, working relationships, occupational roles, and psychiatric comorbidities. Limitations There have been no completed cohort studies comparing pre- and post-pandemic suicidal thoughts and behaviours. It is possible some papers may have been missed in the search. Conclusions The current quality of evidence pertaining to suicidal behaviour in healthcare workers is poor, and evidence is entirely absent for those working in social care. The clinical relevance of this work is to bring attention to what evidence exists, and to encourage, in practice, proactive approaches to interventions for improving healthcare and social care worker mental health.",

keywords = "Suicidal thoughts and behaviour, COVID-19, Healthcare and social care workers",

author = "Emily Eyles and Moran, \{Paul A\} and Chukwudi Okolie and Dana Dekel and Macleod-Hall, \{Catherine I A\} and Webb, \{Roger T.\} and Lena Schmidt and Duleeka Knipe and Mark Sinyor and Luke McGuinness and Ella Arensman and Keith Hawton and O'Connor, \{Rory C\} and Nav Kapur and Siobhan O'Neill and Babatunde Olorisade and Hung-Yuan Cheng and Higgins, \{Julian P T\} and Ann John and Gunnell, \{David J\}",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

journal = "Journal of Affective Disorders Reports",

issn = "2666-9153",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Eyles, E , Moran, PA, Okolie, C, Dekel, D, Macleod-Hall, CIA, Webb, RT, Schmidt, L, Knipe, D, Sinyor, M, McGuinness, L, Arensman, E, Hawton, K, O'Connor, RC, Kapur, N, O'Neill, S, Olorisade, B, Cheng, H-Y, Higgins, JPT, John, A & Gunnell, DJ 2021, 'Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world', Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, vol. 6, 100271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271

TY - JOUR

T1 - Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world

AU - Eyles, Emily

AU - Moran, Paul A

AU - Okolie, Chukwudi

AU - Dekel, Dana

AU - Macleod-Hall, Catherine I A

AU - Webb, Roger T.

AU - Schmidt, Lena

AU - Knipe, Duleeka

AU - Sinyor, Mark

AU - McGuinness, Luke

AU - Arensman, Ella

AU - Hawton, Keith

AU - O'Connor, Rory C

AU - Kapur, Nav

AU - O'Neill, Siobhan

AU - Olorisade, Babatunde

AU - Cheng, Hung-Yuan

AU - Higgins, Julian P T

AU - John, Ann

AU - Gunnell, David J

PY - 2021/11/22

Y1 - 2021/11/22

N2 - Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of healthcare and social care workers, and its potential effect on suicidal thoughts and behaviour is of particular concern. Methods This systematic review identified and appraised the published literature that has reported on the impact of COVID-19 on suicidal thoughts and behaviour and self-harm amongst healthcare and social care workers worldwide up to May 31, 2021. Results Out of 37 potentially relevant papers identified, ten met our eligibility criteria. Our review has highlighted that the impact of COVID-19 has varied as a function of setting, working relationships, occupational roles, and psychiatric comorbidities. Limitations There have been no completed cohort studies comparing pre- and post-pandemic suicidal thoughts and behaviours. It is possible some papers may have been missed in the search. Conclusions The current quality of evidence pertaining to suicidal behaviour in healthcare workers is poor, and evidence is entirely absent for those working in social care. The clinical relevance of this work is to bring attention to what evidence exists, and to encourage, in practice, proactive approaches to interventions for improving healthcare and social care worker mental health.

AB - Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of healthcare and social care workers, and its potential effect on suicidal thoughts and behaviour is of particular concern. Methods This systematic review identified and appraised the published literature that has reported on the impact of COVID-19 on suicidal thoughts and behaviour and self-harm amongst healthcare and social care workers worldwide up to May 31, 2021. Results Out of 37 potentially relevant papers identified, ten met our eligibility criteria. Our review has highlighted that the impact of COVID-19 has varied as a function of setting, working relationships, occupational roles, and psychiatric comorbidities. Limitations There have been no completed cohort studies comparing pre- and post-pandemic suicidal thoughts and behaviours. It is possible some papers may have been missed in the search. Conclusions The current quality of evidence pertaining to suicidal behaviour in healthcare workers is poor, and evidence is entirely absent for those working in social care. The clinical relevance of this work is to bring attention to what evidence exists, and to encourage, in practice, proactive approaches to interventions for improving healthcare and social care worker mental health.

KW - Suicidal thoughts and behaviour

KW - COVID-19

KW - Healthcare and social care workers

U2 - 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271

DO - 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100271

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 34841385

SN - 2666-9153

VL - 6

JO - Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

JF - Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

M1 - 100271

ER -

Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour amongst health and social care workers across the world

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

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The impact of COVID-19 on self-harm and suicidal behaviour: a living systematic review

Cite this