COVID-19 as a context in suicide: early insights from Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To examine how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences may have influenced suicide in Victoria, Australia. 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. 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 s..