Suicidal behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic: Results from cross-sectional surveys of Brazilian adults from 2020 to 2022

<ns3:p>Objectives This study aimed to analyze the predictive capacity of fear of Covid-19, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and pandemic year on suicidal behaviors in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Methods The total sample consisted of 7,746 adults from all regions of the country and over 1,300 Brazilian cities, with an average age of 34 years. The research instruments used were the Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire Scale (PHQ-9), and a question assessing the absence, presence of suicidal ideation, and suicide planning or attempts. Data analysis was conducted using multinomial logistic regression. Results The study’s key findings revealed that fear of Covid-19 (severe [OR = 0.696]), along with varying levels of anxiety (mild [OR = 2.183], moderate [OR = 2.436], severe [OR = 2.757]) and depression (mild [OR = 2.831], moderate [OR = 4.769], severe [OR = 10.660]), were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Predictors for suicide planning and attempts included the year (2022 [OR = 1.297]), fear of Covid-19 (moderate [OR = 0.614], severe [OR = 0.445]), anxiety (mild [OR = 2.253], moderate [OR = 2.988], severe [OR = 3.577]), and depression (mild [OR = 3.021], moderate [OR = 8.189], severe [OR = 40.363]). Discussion These findings underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring of the pandemic’s impact, as mental health surveillance remains essential for shaping effective policies to address suicidal behavior.</ns3:p>