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Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey

Ann John Orcid Logo, Sze Chim Lee, Susan Solomon, David Crepaz-Keay, Shari McDaid, Alec Morton, Gavin Davidson, Tine Van Bortel, Antonis A. Kousoulis

BMJ Open, Volume: 11, Issue: 12, Start page: e048123

Swansea University Authors: Ann John Orcid Logo, Sze Chim Lee

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DOI (Published version): 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048123

Abstract

Objectives: There has been speculation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown on suicidal thoughts and self-harm and the factors associated with any change. We aimed to assess the effects and change in effects of risk factors including loneliness and coping, as well as pr...

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Published in: BMJ Open
ISSN: 2044-6055 2044-6055
Published: BMJ 2021
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We aimed to assess the effects and change in effects of risk factors including loneliness and coping, as well as pre-existing mental health conditions on suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: This study was a repeated cross-sectional online population-based survey. Participants and measures: Non-probability quota sampling was adopted on the UK adult population and four waves of data were analysed during the pandemic (17 March 2020 to 29 May 2020). Outcomes were suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic while loneliness, coping, pre-existing mental health conditions, employment status and demographics were covariates. We ran binomial regressions to evaluate the adjusted risks of the studied covariates as well as the changes in effects over time. Results: The proportion of individuals who felt lonely increased sharply from 9.8% to 23.9% after the UK lockdown began. 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Developing effective interventions designed and coproduced to address loneliness and promote coping strategies during prolonged social isolation may promote mental health and help mitigate suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>BMJ Open</journal><volume>11</volume><journalNumber>12</journalNumber><paginationStart>e048123</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>BMJ</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>2044-6055</issnPrint><issnElectronic>2044-6055</issnElectronic><keywords>Mental health, COVID-19, mental health, public health, suicide &amp;amp; self-harm</keywords><publishedDay>30</publishedDay><publishedMonth>12</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2021</publishedYear><publishedDate>2021-12-30</publishedDate><doi>10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048123</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Health Data Science</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>HDAT</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><funders>The study is funded by MQ Transforming Mental Health (MQBF/3 ADP), the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC EoE/U.SY.SYBJ.GAAB) and the Mental Health Foundation UK (MHF/G105979), with further in-kind or human resource contributions from the University of Cambridge, Swansea University, Strathclyde University and Queens University Belfast, UK. 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spelling 2022-01-19T17:00:12.6648248 v2 59063 2022-01-04 Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55 0000-0002-5657-6995 Ann John Ann John true false 10628af4988d624b49c4de7bd78b4694 Sze Chim Lee Sze Chim Lee true false 2022-01-04 HDAT Objectives: There has been speculation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown on suicidal thoughts and self-harm and the factors associated with any change. We aimed to assess the effects and change in effects of risk factors including loneliness and coping, as well as pre-existing mental health conditions on suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: This study was a repeated cross-sectional online population-based survey. Participants and measures: Non-probability quota sampling was adopted on the UK adult population and four waves of data were analysed during the pandemic (17 March 2020 to 29 May 2020). Outcomes were suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic while loneliness, coping, pre-existing mental health conditions, employment status and demographics were covariates. We ran binomial regressions to evaluate the adjusted risks of the studied covariates as well as the changes in effects over time. Results: The proportion of individuals who felt lonely increased sharply from 9.8% to 23.9% after the UK lockdown began. Young people (aged 18–24 years), females, students, those who were unemployed and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions were more likely to report feeling lonely and not coping well. 7.7%–10.0% and 1.9%–2.2% of respondents reported having suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic respectively throughout the period studied. Results from cross-tabulation and adjusted regression analyses showed young adults, coping poorly and with pre-existing mental health conditions were significantly associated with suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Loneliness was significantly associated with suicidal thoughts but not self-harm. Conclusions: The association between suicidality, loneliness and coping was evident in young people during the early stages of the pandemic. Developing effective interventions designed and coproduced to address loneliness and promote coping strategies during prolonged social isolation may promote mental health and help mitigate suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic. Journal Article BMJ Open 11 12 e048123 BMJ 2044-6055 2044-6055 Mental health, COVID-19, mental health, public health, suicide &amp; self-harm 30 12 2021 2021-12-30 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048123 COLLEGE NANME Health Data Science COLLEGE CODE HDAT Swansea University The study is funded by MQ Transforming Mental Health (MQBF/3 ADP), the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC EoE/U.SY.SYBJ.GAAB) and the Mental Health Foundation UK (MHF/G105979), with further in-kind or human resource contributions from the University of Cambridge, Swansea University, Strathclyde University and Queens University Belfast, UK. The Waterloo Foundation and the Manolo Blahnik International have also provided smaller funding contributions for the study 2022-01-19T17:00:12.6648248 2022-01-04T13:44:13.9278146 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Medicine Ann John 0000-0002-5657-6995 1 Sze Chim Lee 2 Susan Solomon 3 David Crepaz-Keay 4 Shari McDaid 5 Alec Morton 6 Gavin Davidson 7 Tine Van Bortel 8 Antonis A. Kousoulis 9 59063__22003__be1d6be55d1d42f1b3487ed077a9815f.pdf bmjopen-2020-048123.pdf 2022-01-04T13:44:13.9275785 Output 533068 application/pdf Version of Record true © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
title Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
spellingShingle Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
Ann John
Sze Chim Lee
title_short Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
title_full Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
title_fullStr Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
title_full_unstemmed Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
title_sort Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
author_id_str_mv ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55
10628af4988d624b49c4de7bd78b4694
author_id_fullname_str_mv ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55_***_Ann John
10628af4988d624b49c4de7bd78b4694_***_Sze Chim Lee
author Ann John
Sze Chim Lee
author2 Ann John
Sze Chim Lee
Susan Solomon
David Crepaz-Keay
Shari McDaid
Alec Morton
Gavin Davidson
Tine Van Bortel
Antonis A. Kousoulis
format Journal article
container_title BMJ Open
container_volume 11
container_issue 12
container_start_page e048123
publishDate 2021
institution Swansea University
issn 2044-6055
2044-6055
doi_str_mv 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048123
publisher BMJ
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Medicine{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Medicine
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Objectives: There has been speculation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown on suicidal thoughts and self-harm and the factors associated with any change. We aimed to assess the effects and change in effects of risk factors including loneliness and coping, as well as pre-existing mental health conditions on suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: This study was a repeated cross-sectional online population-based survey. Participants and measures: Non-probability quota sampling was adopted on the UK adult population and four waves of data were analysed during the pandemic (17 March 2020 to 29 May 2020). Outcomes were suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic while loneliness, coping, pre-existing mental health conditions, employment status and demographics were covariates. We ran binomial regressions to evaluate the adjusted risks of the studied covariates as well as the changes in effects over time. Results: The proportion of individuals who felt lonely increased sharply from 9.8% to 23.9% after the UK lockdown began. Young people (aged 18–24 years), females, students, those who were unemployed and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions were more likely to report feeling lonely and not coping well. 7.7%–10.0% and 1.9%–2.2% of respondents reported having suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic respectively throughout the period studied. Results from cross-tabulation and adjusted regression analyses showed young adults, coping poorly and with pre-existing mental health conditions were significantly associated with suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Loneliness was significantly associated with suicidal thoughts but not self-harm. Conclusions: The association between suicidality, loneliness and coping was evident in young people during the early stages of the pandemic. Developing effective interventions designed and coproduced to address loneliness and promote coping strategies during prolonged social isolation may promote mental health and help mitigate suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic.
published_date 2021-12-30T04:16:04Z
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