Social distancing during pandemics: Suicide risk and prevention in the face of psychosocial impacts of COVID-19

Abstract

Social distancing strategies have been used to mitigate pathogen transmission rates during pandemics. Such mitigation measures can lead to psychosocial and economic impacts that negatively affect the mental health of populations and, consequently, increase suicide risk, especially in people who were already vulnerable. Based on a reflection on mental health and pandemics, this study aimed to present the negative implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health and articulate them to suicide risk in the general population. We emphasized the importance of adopting proactive mental health care measures combined with sanitary measures. We concluded that large-scale governmental actions are necessary to improve and expand the Brazilian Psychosocial Care System, in addition to cross-sector measures aimed at improving protective factors and mitigating risk factors, especially regarding socioeconomic and relational vulnerability.