Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts after Disaster and Mass Causality Incidents in the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: After accidents and disasters, people suffer from mental disorders due to physical, economic and social injuries. These include anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Due to the fact that some of these measures can endanger a person’s life, as a result, it is important to pay attention to these psychological factors. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt after disaster in the world. Methods: The present study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt after disaster in the world. Accordingly, all English-language articles published from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2019 were extracted through searches in the databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct and Google scholar and then evaluated. Statistical analysis of data was performed using fixed and random effects model in meta-analysis, Cochran test and meta-regression. Results: A total of 33 studies with a sample size of 61,180 people entered the meta-analysis process. Accordingly, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was estimated at 12.9% (CI95%: 10.3% -15.5%) in the whole population, 5.2% (CI95%: 2.9% - 7.4%) in male and 15.8% (CI95%: 10.0% - 21.6%) in female. Moreover, the prevalence of suicide attempt after disasters was estimated at 8.8% (CI95%: 6.6% - 11.0%). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, the prevalence of ​​ suicidal ideation and suicide attempt after disaster is high. Due to the fact that many people in the world are exposed to disasters every year, relatively many people deal with suicidal ideation or suicide attempts.

Keywords

• Suicidal Ideation
• Suicide Attempt
• Disasters
• Mass Casualty Incidents
• Systematic Review
• Meta-analysis