The Growing Link Between Long COVID and Suicide Rates in India

Mental Health News: Researchers are uncovering worrying trends linking long COVID to rising suicide rates across India, with implications for mental health care.
 
The Pandemic's Mental Toll
When COVID-19 struck the world, the immediate concern was the physical toll it would take on populations globally. Millions succumbed to the virus, and healthcare systems were pushed to their limits. However, as the dust began to settle, a new, more sinister issue emerged - the long-lasting psychological effects of the pandemic, which in some cases are contributing to rising suicide rates.


The Growing Link Between Long COVID and Suicide Rates in India

India, or Bharat, as it is officially called, has witnessed a disturbing trend since the pandemic began. Suicide rates, particularly since 2020, have surged across multiple states, raising concerns about the underlying factors driving this increase. Among the many possible causes, researchers from Deakin University-Australia, Monash University-Australia, and others believe long COVID is playing a significant role.
 
This trend of suicides and possible links to COVID-9 is also being witnessed across many countries across the world including in the west and in America.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/u-s-medical-news-cdc-says-record-number-of-americans-killed-themselves-in-2022-with-a-total-of-49,449-suicides
 
This Mental Health News report delves into the findings of a recent study that investigates the possible connections between long COVID and suicide mortality in Bharat, offering critical insights into how the pandemic's aftershocks may be exacerbating mental health crises.
 
Rising Suicide Rates Post-Pandemic
Before the pandemic, Bharat had already been grappling with high suicide rates, particularly among younger populations. Between 2012 and 2017, the country saw a decrease in the number of suicides - from 135,445 to 129,887 deaths per year. Unfortunately, this trend reversed in 2018, and the pandemic further accelerated this rise.
 
In 2022 alone, Bharat recorded 170,924 suicide deaths, marking the highest number of annual suicides in recent history. While suicide rates had been increasing before 2020, the researchers behind this study highlight that the surge during the pandemic years was particularly stark. From 2019 to 2022, the annual suicide rate increased by an average of 0.7 per 100,000 people, a worrying 6.41% jump compared to pre-pandemic years.
 
Long COVID’s Impact on Mental Health
Long COVID, a condition that leaves individuals with persistent symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairments, and anxiety, has been a subject of increasing concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), long COVID typically arises three months after the initial COVID-19 infection, with symptoms lasting for at least two months.
 
Research conducted in Bharat suggests that long COVID is contributing to deteriorating mental health outcomes, particularly anxiety and depression, which are known risk factors for suicidal behavior. For instance, a study in Haryana found that long COVID survivors exhibited significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to those who had fully recovered. In Eastern India, 4% of long COVID patients who had survived the Omicron wave reported ongoing depression.
 
The emotional and psychological weight of these symptoms, compounded by the social and financial stresses that many faced during the pandemic, may be pushing some individuals toward suicide. The study found that, while there was no significant correlation between COVID-19 deaths and suicide rates, there was a clear link between rising COVID-19 cases and increased suicide rates at both state and national levels.
 
Worrying State-Level Trends
Suicide mortality rates have not risen uniformly across Bharat, with some states and union territories (UTs) witnessing sharper increases than others. Tamil Nadu, for example, saw an annual rise in its suicide rate of 2.7 per 100,000 people (a 15.17% increase), while Telangana recorded a 9.22% increase. These states had previously experienced declines in suicide rates before 2020.
 
Maharashtra, the state with the highest number of suicide deaths in 2022, also experienced significant increases, along with Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka. The study suggests that these regions may have been more severely impacted by the mental health effects of long COVID due to higher caseloads of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
 
Meanwhile, some states, such as Haryana, saw a surprising decline in suicide rates during the pandemic years, indicating that regional factors - such as local mental health interventions or different social dynamics - might play a role in mitigating the impacts of long COVID on suicide mortality. Further research is needed to understand why certain areas have been more resilient.
 
The Role of Mental Health Services
The findings from this study have raised red flags regarding Bharat’s preparedness to handle the mental health crisis exacerbated by long COVID. Currently, the country faces a shortage of mental health professionals, with only 0.30 psychiatrists per 100,000 people. The demand for counseling services and psychiatric care has never been higher, and this shortage is contributing to the growing mental health burden.
 
Improving access to mental health services is a pressing need, especially in rural and underserved areas where many individuals have little to no access to professional care. Traditional healers have played a vital role in providing mental health support in some regions, and integrating these healers into the formal healthcare system could be one way to expand access to mental health care in remote communities.
 
Long COVID: A Growing Threat
While much has been learned about the physical impacts of long COVID, there is still much to understand about its psychological and emotional effects. The researchers behind this study believe that the chronic nature of long COVID symptoms, combined with the social isolation and economic pressures of the pandemic, may create the perfect storm for suicidal tendencies.
 
Though their research establishes a strong correlation between COVID-19 case rates and rising suicide numbers, the exact mechanisms through which long COVID leads to increased suicide risk remain unclear. The study calls for further investigation into the biological, psychological, and social factors that could explain this link.
 
Conclusion
This study highlights an urgent need for more mental health resources to address the growing suicide rates in Bharat. Long COVID is emerging as a critical factor in worsening mental health, with implications for suicide prevention efforts across the country. As the pandemic’s effects linger, improving access to mental health care - whether through psychiatrists, counselors, or traditional healers - will be crucial in preventing further increases in suicide mortality.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: COVID.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/4/10/117
 
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