Abuse, self-harm and suicidal ideation in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry Vol. 217; no. 4; pp. 543 - 546
• Main Authors: Iob, Eleonora, Steptoe, Andrew, Fancourt, Daisy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Abuse; Adult; Betacoronavirus; Black people; Chronic mental disorders; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disability; Domestic Violence - prevention & control; Domestic Violence - psychology; Domestic Violence - statistics & numerical data; Emotional abuse; Ethnic groups; Ethnicity; Female; Health services; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical diagnosis; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - virology; Mental health; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; Minority groups; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Psychosocial Support Systems; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Self destructive behavior; Self injury; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Self-Injurious Behavior - prevention & control; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Short Report; Social distancing; Social Isolation - psychology; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Suicides & suicide attempts; Unemployment; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Women; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; COVID-19; abuse; thoughts of suicide or self-harm; self-harm; mental health
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2020.130

This study explored patterns of abuse, self-harm and thoughts of suicide/self-harm in the UK during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic using data from the COVID-19 Social Study (n=44 775), a non-probability sample weighted to population proportions. The reported frequency of abuse, self-harm and thoughts of suicide/self-harm was higher among women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups and people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, unemployment, disability, chronic physical illnesses, mental disorders and COVID-19 diagnosis. Psychiatric medications were the most common type of support being used, but fewer than half of those affected were accessing formal or informal support.