Analysis of news media reports of suicides and attempted suicides during the COVID-19 lockdown in India
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International Journal of Mental Health Systems Open Access
RESEARCH
Analysis of news media reports of suicides and attempted suicides during the COVID‑19 lockdown in India Soumitra Pathare1* , Lakshmi Vijayakumar2, Tanya Nicole Fernandes1, Manisha Shastri1, Arjun Kapoor1, Deepa Pandit1, Isha Lohumi1, Somidha Ray1, Arti Kulkarni1 and Palak Korde1
Abstract Background: Based on previous experience there is justifiable concern about suicidal behaviour and news media reporting of it during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study used a systematic search of online news media reports (versions of newspapers, magazine and other digital publications) of suicidal behaviour during India’s COVID-19 lockdown and compared it to corresponding dates in 2019. Data was gathered using a uniform search strategy from 56 online news media publications 24 March to 3 May for the years 2019 and 2020 using keywords, suicide, attempted suicide, hangs self and kills self. Demographic variables and methods used for suicide were compared for suicide and attempts between the 2 years using chi-squared tests (χ2). Results: There were online news media reports of 369 cases of suicides and attempted suicides during COVID lockdown vs 220 reports in 2019, a 67.7% increase in online news media reports of suicidal behaviour. Compared to 2019, suicides reported during lockdown were significantly older (30 vs 50 years, p
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