TY - JOUR
T1 - The Spanish Flu pandemic and stable New Zealand suicide rates
T2 - historical lessons for COVID-19
AU - Bastiampillai, Tarun
AU - Allison, Stephen
AU - Smith, David
AU - Mulder, Roger
AU - Looi, Jeffrey Cl
PY - 2021/9/3
Y1 - 2021/9/3
N2 - There were initial concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic might significantly increase worldwide suicide rates, due to the combined effects of economic recession, rising unemployment, job insecurity, income shock, social isolation, possible barriers to receiving mental health treatment, increased alcohol use, strained relationships, increased levels of national anxiety and distress Also, if the COVID-19 pandemic were to trigger another 1929–1930s “Great Depression” and raise unemployment by potentially 15–20%, suicide rates could increase by at least 15%, with working age men being the highest risk group. Stuckler et al reported that within European Union countries between 1970 and 2007, every 1% increase in unemployment rate was associated with a 0.79% increase in suicide rate for those aged under 65...
AB - There were initial concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic might significantly increase worldwide suicide rates, due to the combined effects of economic recession, rising unemployment, job insecurity, income shock, social isolation, possible barriers to receiving mental health treatment, increased alcohol use, strained relationships, increased levels of national anxiety and distress Also, if the COVID-19 pandemic were to trigger another 1929–1930s “Great Depression” and raise unemployment by potentially 15–20%, suicide rates could increase by at least 15%, with working age men being the highest risk group. Stuckler et al reported that within European Union countries between 1970 and 2007, every 1% increase in unemployment rate was associated with a 0.79% increase in suicide rate for those aged under 65...
KW - Pandemics
KW - Spanish Flu
KW - COVID-19
KW - Suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116320470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Letter
C2 - 34531605
AN - SCOPUS:85116320470
SN - 1175-8716
VL - 134
SP - 134
EP - 137
JO - New Zealand Medical Journal
JF - New Zealand Medical Journal
IS - 1541
ER -