Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan
Objectives This study investigated the change in suicidal ideation and its risk factors among employees. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted, starting with the baseline online survey in March 2020 (T1), followed by May (T2), and August (T3). The change in suicidal ideation from T2 to T3 and re...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010358/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156968657649664 |
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| author | Natsu Sasaki Reiko Kuroda Kanami Tsuno Kotaro Imamura Norito Kawakami |
| author_facet | Natsu Sasaki Reiko Kuroda Kanami Tsuno Kotaro Imamura Norito Kawakami |
| author_sort | Natsu Sasaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives
This study investigated the change in suicidal ideation and its risk factors among employees. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted, starting with the baseline online survey in March 2020 (T1), followed by May (T2), and August (T3). The change in suicidal ideation from T2 to T3 and relevant factors associated with suicidal ideation at T3 were examined. Suicidal ideation significantly increased between May and August 2020 among females, younger (under 39 years old), highly educated population, and those without pre-existing mental health conditions. Factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation were younger age, suicidal ideation at T2, and with pre-existing mental health conditions. Loneliness at T2 showed a significant association with suicidal ideation, if adjusting those without pre-existing mental health conditions. National and community support is needed to target people who are likely to be left behind, such as young people and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, in the pandemic.
Method
A longitudinal study was conducted with a cohort of full-time employees, starting with the baseline online survey in March 2020 (time point 1), followed by May (time point 2) and August (time point 3). The change in suicidal ideation from time point 2 to 3, and relevant factors associated with suicidal ideation at time point 3, were examined.
Results
Suicidal ideation significantly increased between time points 2 and 3 among women, younger people (aged <39 years), those who were highly educated and those without pre-existing mental health conditions. Factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation were younger age, suicidal ideation at time point 2 and pre-existing mental health conditions. Loneliness at time point 2 showed a significant association with suicidal ideation when adjusting for those without pre-existing mental health conditions.
Conclusions
National and community support is needed to target people who are likely to be left behind, such as young people, those with pre-existing mental health conditions and those experiencing loneliness, in the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3d4d770d2864e819e718899f2a461c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3d4d770d2864e819e718899f2a461c52023-03-09T12:29:17ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242021-11-01710.1192/bjo.2021.1035Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in JapanNatsu Sasaki0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6097-5948Reiko Kuroda1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4063-0141Kanami Tsuno2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9399-6596Kotaro Imamura3Norito Kawakami4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1080-2720Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, JapanDivision for Environment, Health, and Safety, The University of Tokyo, JapanSchool of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services, JapanDepartment of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, JapanObjectives This study investigated the change in suicidal ideation and its risk factors among employees. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted, starting with the baseline online survey in March 2020 (T1), followed by May (T2), and August (T3). The change in suicidal ideation from T2 to T3 and relevant factors associated with suicidal ideation at T3 were examined. Suicidal ideation significantly increased between May and August 2020 among females, younger (under 39 years old), highly educated population, and those without pre-existing mental health conditions. Factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation were younger age, suicidal ideation at T2, and with pre-existing mental health conditions. Loneliness at T2 showed a significant association with suicidal ideation, if adjusting those without pre-existing mental health conditions. National and community support is needed to target people who are likely to be left behind, such as young people and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, in the pandemic. Method A longitudinal study was conducted with a cohort of full-time employees, starting with the baseline online survey in March 2020 (time point 1), followed by May (time point 2) and August (time point 3). The change in suicidal ideation from time point 2 to 3, and relevant factors associated with suicidal ideation at time point 3, were examined. Results Suicidal ideation significantly increased between time points 2 and 3 among women, younger people (aged <39 years), those who were highly educated and those without pre-existing mental health conditions. Factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation were younger age, suicidal ideation at time point 2 and pre-existing mental health conditions. Loneliness at time point 2 showed a significant association with suicidal ideation when adjusting for those without pre-existing mental health conditions. Conclusions National and community support is needed to target people who are likely to be left behind, such as young people, those with pre-existing mental health conditions and those experiencing loneliness, in the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010358/type/journal_articleSuicideepidemiologycommunity mental health teamsprimary carepsychological testing |
| spellingShingle | Natsu Sasaki Reiko Kuroda Kanami Tsuno Kotaro Imamura Norito Kawakami Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan BJPsych Open Suicide epidemiology community mental health teams primary care psychological testing |
| title | Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan |
| title_full | Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan |
| title_short | Increased suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic: an employee cohort in Japan |
| title_sort | increased suicidal ideation in the covid 19 pandemic an employee cohort in japan |
| topic | Suicide epidemiology community mental health teams primary care psychological testing |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010358/type/journal_article |
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