Youth Suicides in the Second Wave of the Pandemic in Turkiye

Year 2024, Volume: 34 Issue: 1, 83 - 87, 29.02.2024

Elif Benderlioğlu , Esra Çöp , Funda Kurt , Halise Akça , Ayla Akca Çağlar , Leman Akcan Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1354962

Abstract

Objective: It is widely recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social isolation have significant short- and long-term effects on mental health worldwide. Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the short-term impact on mental health during the first wave of the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the influence of the second wave of the pandemic on suicide rates among children and adolescents.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study recorded cases of self-harm among children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, who were admitted to our center's pediatric emergency department between November 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. These cases were compared with those admitted during the same months one year prior, considering similar age groups and diagnoses.
Results: A total of 53 cases were included in our study, with 21 cases occurring before the pandemic and 32 cases during the second wave. While the total number of admissions decreased during the second wave of the pandemic, there was an increase in suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were more prevalent among females, often linked to family or peer-related issues and impulsivity.
Conclusions: The findings of our study highlight the evident long-term adverse effects on mental health during the second wave of the pandemic. To effectively address these consequences in the future, it is crucial to comprehend the devastating long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health.

Keywords

Mental health, Covid-19 pandemic, Suicide, Adolescents, Child

Türkiye’de Pandeminin İkinci Dalgasında Genç İntiharları

Abstract

Amaç: Tüm dünyada etkili olan pandemi COVID -19 ve sosyal izolasyon döneminin ruh sağlığı üzerinde kısa ve uzun vadeli etkileri olduğu bilinmektedir. Yapılan çalışmalarda, pandeminin ilk dalgasında, ruh sağlığına kısa vadeli etkilerle ilgili farklı sonuçlar gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışmada pandeminin ikinci dalgasının çocuk ve ergenlerde intihar oranları üzerindeki etkisi incelenmiştir.
Yöntem: Merkezimizin pediatrik acil servisine 1 Kasım 2020-31 Ocak 2021 tarihleri arasında başvuran, 6-18 yaş aralığında ve kendine zarar verme ile ilişkili tanı kodu alan olgular retrospektif olarak toplanmıştır. Sonuçlar bir yıl önce aynı aylardaki, benzer yaş aralığı ve benzer tanıları alan olgularla karşılaştırılmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışmamız 21’i pandemi öncesi, 32’si pandemi sonrası olmak üzere toplam 53 olgu ile tamamlandı. Pandeminin ikinci dalgasında hastaneye toplam başvuru sayıları azalırken intihar ilişkili başvurularda artış saptanmıştır. İntihar teşebbüsü daha sıklıkla kadınlarda, ilaç alımı ile, aile ve arkadaş sorunları nedeniyle ve dürtüsel olarak görülmüştür.
Sonuç: Pandeminin ikinci dalgasının mental sağlığa uzun vadeli etkisinin olumsuz yönde olduğunu gördük. Gelecekte harekete geçmek için pandeminin zihinsel sağlık üzerindeki yıkıcı uzun vadeli etkisini anlamak önemlidir.

Keywords

Mental sağlık, Covid 19 pandemisi, İntihar, Ergen, Çocuk

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