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COVID-19 and Psychological Distress—Changes in Internet Searches for Mental Health Issues in New York During the Pandemic

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article

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JAMA Internal Medicine

December 1, 2020

Research Letter

Article Information and Disclosures

Stefan Stijelja, BS^1,2;

Brian L. Mishara, PhD^1,2

Author Affiliations

¹Centre for Research and Intervention on Suicide, Ethical Issues and End-of-Life Practices, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
²Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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The highly contagious nature of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, leading to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, necessitated the enactment of public health actions on an unprecedented scale in US history. Closure of all nonessential businesses along with strict social-distancing measures were instituted to curb disease transmission across the nation. After gradually closing some businesses and schools, the state of New York instituted New York State on PAUSE, a statewide lockdown, effective on March 22, 2020. Social isolation, restrictions of activities, workplace closures, as well as associated financial losses and the fears of COVID-19 may place a considerable psychological burden on people. Literature on the effects of quarantine highlights their negative consequences on mental health.¹ To better understand mental health concerns during the New York COVID-19 lockdown, we analyzed trends in internet searches for mental health issues.

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Article Information

Accepted for Publication: June 9, 2020.

Corresponding Author: Stefan Stijelja, BS, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, CP 8888, Succ Centre-Ville, Montreal H3C 3P8, Canada (stijela.stefan.2@uqam.ca).

Published Online: October 5, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.3271

Author Contributions: Mr Stijelja had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Stijelja.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Stijelja.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Stijelja.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Mishara.

Supervision: All authors.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

References

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Watkins A , Rothfeld M , Rashbaum WK , Rosenthal BM . Top E.R. doctor who treated virus patients dies by suicide. The New York Times. April 27, 2020. Updated April 29, 2020. Accessed September 2, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/nyregion/new-york-city-doctor-suicide-coronavirus.html

Van Orden KA , Witte TK , Cukrowicz KC , Braithwaite SR , Selby EA , Joiner TE Jr . The interpersonal theory of suicide. Psychol Rev. 2010;117(2):575-600. doi:10.1037/a0018697 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Reger MA , Stanley IH , Joiner TE . Suicide mortality and coronavirus disease 2019—a perfect storm? JAMA Psych. Published online April 10, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1060.Google Scholar

Reeves A , Stuckler D , McKee M , Gunnell D , Chang S-S , Basu S . Increase in state suicide rates in the USA during economic recession. Lancet. 2012;380(9856):1813-1814. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61910-2 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

COVID-19 and Psychological Distress—Changes in Internet Searches for Mental Health Issues in New York During the Pandemic

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COVID-19 and Psychological Distress—Changes in Internet Searches for Mental Health Issues in New York During the Pandemic

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