Study investigates which Covid-related stressors most likely trigger suicidal thoughts

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Jun 3 2021

There has been concern at how the pandemic has not only hit physical health and the economy but has also impacted our mental health with the possibility of increased rates of suicide.

Now a new study - a collaboration between Swansea University, Cardiff University, and the NHS in Wales - has investigated exactly which Covid-related stressors are most likely to trigger suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The researchers also discovered the important role that hope for the future can play - along with individuals' levels resilience - when it comes to coping with these stressors.

More than 12,000 people responded to the Wales Wellbeing survey which asked volunteers to share their experiences during the first UK lockdown.

The results, which have just been published by journal the Archives of Suicide Research, show that several stressors such as social isolation, domestic abuse, relationship problems, redundancy, and financial problems were strongly linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

However, not everyone enduring these issues reported having suicidal thoughts. Those individuals with high levels of resilience and hope for the future were less affected by these pressures.

Professor Nicola Gray, from Swansea University, said: "We can use these findings to target which stressors are the most toxic in terms of driving people towards thoughts of suicide. While some of these may ease as we come out of lockdown, others may persist well into the future."

Professor Robert Snowden, from Cardiff University, added: "Many of these stressors are difficult to avoid, so we also need to instill hope for the future in our communities to help people get through these difficult times."

The survey was conducted at the time of the first UK lockdown (June-July 2020) and the paper's lead author, James Knowles, from Swansea University, is continuing to monitor the situation.

People's responses to a traumatic crisis do not follow a simple path of depression then recovery. It is currently unclear as to whether people simply have got worse as the crisis has continued or whether they are becoming more immune to the situation and are developing increased resilience. Only by understanding this can we be in a position to make an effective response and help people who might be suffering."

James Knowles, Paper's Lead Author, Swansea University