Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Objective: The burden of suicidal behavior is anticipated to increase as a sequela of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited evidence on suicidal behavior among healthcare workers, an at-risk population. Our study aimed to investigate suicidal ideation in terms of the rate and associated f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.658174/full |
| _version_ | 1819146385244553216 |
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| author | Hajar Mohd Salleh Sahimi Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud Lai Fong Chan Shamsul Azhar Shah Farynna Hana Ab Rahman Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar |
| author_facet | Hajar Mohd Salleh Sahimi Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud Lai Fong Chan Shamsul Azhar Shah Farynna Hana Ab Rahman Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar |
| author_sort | Hajar Mohd Salleh Sahimi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The burden of suicidal behavior is anticipated to increase as a sequela of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited evidence on suicidal behavior among healthcare workers, an at-risk population. Our study aimed to investigate suicidal ideation in terms of the rate and associated factors in a sample of Malaysian healthcare workers during the early-phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A subpopulation analysis (N = 171) was conducted within a larger, nation-wide cross-sectional study of Malaysian healthcare worker psychological distress from March 18–21, 2020. Current suicidal ideation was measured with item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The following independent variables were assessed: socio-demographic profile, occupation and service-related factors, health-anxiety (Health Anxiety Inventory, HAI), lifetime anxiety disorder and severity of depression (PHQ-9).Results: The proportion of healthcare workers with current suicidal ideation (19/171) and clinical depression (17/171) were 11.1 and 9.9%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that clinical depression was the most significant factor associated with current suicidal ideation (p < 0.001, OR = 55.983, 95% CI = 9.015–347.671) followed by mild (subthreshold) depression (p = 0.001, OR = 115.984, 95% CI = 2.977–85.804). Service duration of more than 10 years was associated with significantly less suicidal ideation (p = 0.049, OR = 0.072, 95% CI = 0.005–0.993).Conclusions: Depression (subthreshold and especially within the clinical range) and early-career status (<10 years in service) may be target areas of early intervention for reduction of suicidal ideation amongst healthcare workers who have served during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is warranted to elucidate specific occupational stressors related to COVID-19 work conditions to tailor appropriate suicide preventive strategies in this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:13:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-390d93f82f034d939ba9796d48003e4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:13:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-390d93f82f034d939ba9796d48003e4a2022-12-21T18:24:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402021-04-011210.3389/fpsyt.2021.658174658174Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 PandemicHajar Mohd Salleh Sahimi0Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud1Lai Fong Chan2Shamsul Azhar Shah3Farynna Hana Ab Rahman4Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar5Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, National University of Malaysia, UKM, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, UKM, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, UKM, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, UKM, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, UKM, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, UKM, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaObjective: The burden of suicidal behavior is anticipated to increase as a sequela of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited evidence on suicidal behavior among healthcare workers, an at-risk population. Our study aimed to investigate suicidal ideation in terms of the rate and associated factors in a sample of Malaysian healthcare workers during the early-phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A subpopulation analysis (N = 171) was conducted within a larger, nation-wide cross-sectional study of Malaysian healthcare worker psychological distress from March 18–21, 2020. Current suicidal ideation was measured with item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The following independent variables were assessed: socio-demographic profile, occupation and service-related factors, health-anxiety (Health Anxiety Inventory, HAI), lifetime anxiety disorder and severity of depression (PHQ-9).Results: The proportion of healthcare workers with current suicidal ideation (19/171) and clinical depression (17/171) were 11.1 and 9.9%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that clinical depression was the most significant factor associated with current suicidal ideation (p < 0.001, OR = 55.983, 95% CI = 9.015–347.671) followed by mild (subthreshold) depression (p = 0.001, OR = 115.984, 95% CI = 2.977–85.804). Service duration of more than 10 years was associated with significantly less suicidal ideation (p = 0.049, OR = 0.072, 95% CI = 0.005–0.993).Conclusions: Depression (subthreshold and especially within the clinical range) and early-career status (<10 years in service) may be target areas of early intervention for reduction of suicidal ideation amongst healthcare workers who have served during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is warranted to elucidate specific occupational stressors related to COVID-19 work conditions to tailor appropriate suicide preventive strategies in this population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.658174/fullsuicidal ideationhealth-care workersearly phaseCOVID-19 pandemicMalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Hajar Mohd Salleh Sahimi Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud Lai Fong Chan Shamsul Azhar Shah Farynna Hana Ab Rahman Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic Frontiers in Psychiatry suicidal ideation health-care workers early phase COVID-19 pandemic Malaysia |
| title | Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Depression and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | depression and suicidal ideation in a sample of malaysian healthcare workers a preliminary study during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | suicidal ideation health-care workers early phase COVID-19 pandemic Malaysia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.658174/full |
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