Monitoring suicidal ideation trends and risk factors among Dutch youth during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives

We examined trends and risk factors for self-reported suicidal ideation among Dutch youth (12–25 years) during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study design

A repeated cross-sectional survey study.

Methods

This study was performed among representative panels (N ∼ 5.000 youth per wave). Trends were assessed between September 2021 and September 2023. In March 2022, and in March 2023 and September 2023, selected sociodemographic, health, and social activity variables were analysed as potential risk factors using random forest and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Data from nine survey waves were included, totalling 42,099 participants. Results showed a significant increase in self-reported suicidal ideation following the Omicron lockdown of December 2021 and January 2022, ranging from 8.6 % in December 2021 to 18.8 % in September 2023 (P ≤ 0.001). Severe loneliness and poor psychological well-being were identified as significant risk factors.

Conclusions

This study reveals how the COVID-19 context influenced Dutch youth suicidal ideation trends, emphasizing that pandemic-era suicide prevention should focus on loneliness and poor psychological well-being. However, there is no need for significant adaptation to different stages of the pandemic, as key risk factors and their associations with suicidal ideation remained consistent across survey waves.