No Cover Image

Journal article 204 views

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm and suicidal behaviours in children and young people: a systematic review

Dana Dekel Orcid Logo, Emily Eyles Orcid Logo, Amanda Marchant Orcid Logo, Duleeka Knipe, Faraz Mughal Orcid Logo, Lana Bojanić, Lena Schmidt, Luke A. McGuinness, Julian P. T. Higgins, David Gunnell, Keith Hawton Orcid Logo, Roger T Webb, Ann John Orcid Logo

F1000Research, Volume: 15, Start page: 237

Swansea University Authors: Dana Dekel Orcid Logo, Amanda Marchant Orcid Logo, Ann John Orcid Logo

Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.12688/f1000research.175018.1

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic brought global disruption, increased mortality, and concern about mental health impacts. Although children and young people (CYP) generally experienced less severe physical symptoms, public health measures such as school closures and restricted social interactions li...

Full description

Published in: F1000Research
ISSN: 2046-1402
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2026
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71504
Abstract: Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic brought global disruption, increased mortality, and concern about mental health impacts. Although children and young people (CYP) generally experienced less severe physical symptoms, public health measures such as school closures and restricted social interactions likely had adverse effects. Concerns were raised that risks of suicide and self-harm could increase during and after the pandemic. This review examined the extent to which these concerns were reflected in published evidence. Design: A systematic search of databases was conducted for quantitative observational studies reporting suicide deaths, self-harm (including non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts), or suicidal ideation in individuals aged 24 years and under. Studies published between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2022 were included. Quality was assessed using National Institutes of Health tools. Due to methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesised narratively. Results: Eighty-seven studies met inclusion criteria: 23 reported on suicide, 53 on self-harm, and 27 on suicidal ideation. Two were not peer-reviewed; all were observational. Most were conducted in healthcare settings and presented pre- and post-pandemic data. Half were rated low quality. Suicide data, largely from high-income countries, showed little or no overall change, though some studies reported increases among males. Moderate- or high-quality studies of self-harm indicated increases, especially from late 2020 into 2021/2022, and more pronounced among females. Increases in suicidal ideation were also reported, mainly in cohort or healthcare-based studies, though most were low quality. Conclusions: The pandemic appeared to have minimal immediate impact on suicide rates in CYP. There was limited evidence from low- and middle-income countries, ethnic minorities, low-income households, and marginalised groups. Evidence of increased self-harm, particularly among females, highlights the need for age- and gender-specific policies, care pathways, and prevention strategies that are adaptable during future public health crises and ensure timely access to effective support.
Item Description: Systematic Review
Keywords: COVID-19, Living systematic review, Suicide; Attempted suicide, Self-harm, Suicidal ideation, Children, Young people, adolescents
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: R.T.W. is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (ref. NIHR204295) and by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (ref. NIHR203308). J.P.T.H. is an NIHR Senior Investigator (grant nos., until March 2022: NF-SI-0617-10145; from April 2022: NIHR203807). D.J.G. and J.P.T.H. are both are supported by the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (grant no. BRC-1215-20011). J.P.T.H. and E.E. are supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (grant no. NIHR200181). L.A.M. was supported by the NIHR through a NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship [DRF-2018-11-ST2-048]. L.S. was supported by the NIHR through a NIHR Systematic Reviews Fellowship [RM-SR-2017-09-028] and is currently supported by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) [HSRIC-2016-10009/Innovation Observatory]. FM is supported by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (NIHR204295) and Faraz Mughal, Doctoral Fellowship (reference: NIHR300957), is funded by the NIHR. D.K. was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol (grant no. 204813/Z/16/Z). A.J. and D.D. were funded by Medical Research Council (Grant reference:MR/Z504816/1).
Start Page: 237

Similar Items