Suicidal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: A finding of an Indo-Nigerian online survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the mental health and is associated with high suicidal behavior. This study is an effort to scrutinize suicidal behavior among general population in two countries, namely India and Nigeria.METHODS: This was an online survey conducted on 536 adult participants (272 from India and 264 from Nigeria) over a period of six months. It was conducted using a snowball sampling method. The participation in the survey was entirely voluntary. Current suicidality was measured among the participants. Data were collected in two countries only.RESULTS: Feeling of hopelessness over the past one month was reported by more than one-fifth of Indian as well as Nigerian participants. The differences in suicidal behavior of Indian and Nigerian participants were not statistically significant. Intention to hurt self and passive death wishes in the Indian population was higher than Nigerian participants, which can be explained by significantly higher medical morbidity and past psychiatric illness history in the Indian participants. Suicide attempt was reported in 1.1% of Indian participants and 1.51% of Nigerian participants in the past one month. On the other hand, 5.88% of the Indian participants and 2.65% of the Nigerian participants had suicidal ideation in the past month.CONCLUSION: High suicidal behavior has been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic among the participants from India and Nigeria.