The psychological toll of pandemic uncertainty: decoding the asymmetric triggers of suicide during Uncertain Times

Abstract

Pandemic uncertainty significantly elevates suicide rates by intensifying economic and social stressors, thereby heightening psychological distress and exacerbating mental health challenges. This study scrutinizes the asymmetric impact of pandemic-induced uncertainty on suicide rates in 10 selected countries from diverse regions (USA, UK, India, Brazil, Japan, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Russia, and Canada). Prior works predominantly utilized panel data approaches and overlooked the varied economic landscapes across nations. Contrarily, this investigation adopts the Quantile-on-Quantile technique, which facilitates a comprehensive examination of variables' interplay within the unique circumstances of individual countries. Employing this methodology enhances both the precision of the findings and the comprehension of the worldwide scenario, manifesting perceptions related to the exceptional traits of diverse nations. The research establishes a positive correlation between pandemic uncertainty and suicide rates in most of the selected economies. Moreover, diverse trends are discerned in these associations across sample nations. These results underscore the importance of policymakers conducting extensive assessments and formulating robust tactics to look at changes in pandemic-related uncertainty and suicide rates effectively.