Prevalence of suicide ideation and its correlation with socio-occupational and interpersonal factors in covid-19 positive patients in tertiary care hospital

BACKGROUND: Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 crisis may increase suicide rates during and after the pandemic. METHODS: This is a Cross-sectional study. 214 Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 viral infection and who fulfilled inclusion criteria were included in study. Participants were subjected to social-demographic details and semi-structured questionnaire for suicide ideation. RESULTS: From 214 participants, the mean age was 18.63 ± 2 years, female 150 (70.09%), married 118 (55.14%) and nuclear family 196 (91.59%). 144 (67.29%) participants were studied up to primary. The majority were included in lower socioeconomic status 102 (47.67%) and reside at rural area 199 (92.99%). The prevalence rate of suicide ideation is 13.08%.In the exploration of perceived causes of SI, most of the study subjects 10 (35.71%) responded that they were fear of COVID-19 infection followed by fear for the future 5 (17.86%), difficult family dynamics 5 (17.86%), loss of loved ones 3 (10.71%), job loss 3 (10.71%), and isolation (loneliness) 2 (7.14%). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that Suicide risk is multi factorial andif specific strategies can be maximally implemented with COVID-19–specific threats to population mental health and suicide risk in mind, this pandemic may not only provide a sense of urgency, but a path forward to address suicide risk at hospital and community levels.