A Cross-Sectional Study on Factors Related to Suicidal Ideation in Individuals with Spiritist Involvement: Comparison before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: Suicide increases in Brazil annually and the population search for spiritual care, as in Spiritism, a religion that attracts people in psychic pain. We sought to identify the factors associated with suicidal ideation among persons with some Level of Spiritism Engagement (LSE), before and during COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical research with 848 inhabitants from Ceará, Brazil, with some LSE, was conducted through digital data collection via snowball, with a bivariate (p < 0,30), multivariate (p < 0,30) and multinomial analysis (p < 0,05) of sociodemographic factors, psychic status, psychic care, spiritual belief and LSE related to suicidal ideation. Afterward, a multinomial regression analysis (p < 0.05) was conducted on all significant factors to identify those most strongly associated with suicidal ideation. Results: Risk factors of mild/moderate suicidal ideation were to be single (OR=2,32; CI 1,19-4,52), previous psychotherapy before COVID-19 (OR=1,81; CI 1,10-2,98) and to be spiritist (OR=2,43; CI 1,34-4,38). Risk factors of severe suicidal ideation were: to be single (OR=4,05; CI 1,89-8,69), unemployed (OR=2,93; CI 1,45-5,92), have a regular/bad/worse self-perception of emotional health (OR=4,84; CI 2,55-9,17), previous psychotherapy before COVID-19 (OR=2,57; CI 1,40-4,71) and to be spiritist (OR=2,13; CI 1,00-4,52). Pre-pandemic regular/high/very high LSE was a protective factor for severe suicidal ideation during COVID-19 (OR=0,38; CI 0,16-0,90). Conclusion: Negative self-perception of emotional health, psychotherapeutic follow-up, and identification as spiritist were associated with severe suicidal ideation, which appears to support the notion that spiritism attracts individuals experiencing psychic distress. Despite this disease profile, higher levels of spiritist engagement before the pandemic were protective against severe suicidal ideation during COVID-19, suggesting a potential positive effect of spiritism on mental health.