During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, important changes were made to the psychotherapeutic process whereby remote treatments became normalised and suicidal distress was communicated from afar. We consider lessons that may be learnt from this experience about the communication of suicidal desperation and engaging the distressed patient through remote mechanisms.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

REFERENCES

Barberis, N., Cannavò, M., Cuzzocrea, F. & Verrastro, V. (2022) Suicidal behaviours during COVID-19 pandemic: a review. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 19(2), 84–96. Available from: https://doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore20220202
10.36131/cnfioritieditore20220202
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Buronfosse, A., Robin, M., Speranza, M., Duriez, P., Silva, J., Corcos, M. et al. (2024) The impact of a telephone hotline on suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviors in patients with borderline personality disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1288195. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1288195
10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1288195
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
da Cunha Varella, A.P., Griffin, E., Khashan, A. & Kabir, Z. (2024) Suicide rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 59, 1897–1905. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-024-02617-1
10.1007/s00127-024-02617-1
PubMed Google Scholar
Farooq, S., Tunmore, J., Wajid, A.M. & Ayub, M. (2021) Suicide, self-harm and suicidal ideation during COVID-19: a systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 306, 114228. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114228
10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114228
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Goldblatt, M.J., Casado Sastre, C.M., Briggs, S. & Lindner, R. (2022) Isolation, loneliness and aloneness in the age of COVID-19: reflections on clinical experiences. British Journal of Psychotherapy, 38(4), 738–753. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjp.12771
10.1111/bjp.12771
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Gould, M.S., Chowdhury, S., Lake, A.M., Galfalvy, H., Kleinman, M., Kuchuk, M. et al. (2021) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline crisis chat interventions: evaluation of chatters' perceptions of effectiveness. Suicide and Life-threatening Behavior, 51(6), 1126–1137. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12795
10.1111/sltb.12795
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Halford, E.A., Lake, A.M. & Gould, M.S. (2021) Crisis hotlines. In: D. Wasserman (Ed.) Oxford textbook of suicidology and suicide prevention, 2nd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 447–453.
10.1093/med/9780198834441.003.0053
Google Scholar
Hoffberg, A.S., Stearns-Yoder, K.A. & Brenner, L.A. (2020) The effectiveness of crisis line services: a systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, 399. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00399
10.3389/fpubh.2019.00399
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Klein, M. (1963) On the sense of loneliness. In: M. Klein (Ed.) Envy and gratitude and other works, 1946–1963. London: Virago.
Google Scholar
Matthews, S., Cantor, J.H., Brooks Holliday, S., Eberhart, N.K., Breslau, J., Bialas, A. et al. (2023) Mental health emergency hotlines in the United States: a scoping review (2012–2021). Psychiatric Services, 74(5), 513–522. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20220128
10.1176/appi.ps.20220128
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Michaud, L., Greenway, K.T., Corbeil, S., Bourquin, C. & Richard-Devantoy, S. (2023) Countertransference towards suicidal patients: a systematic review. Current Psychology, 42, 416–430. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01424-0
10.1007/s12144-021-01424-0
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Pathirathna, M.L., Nandasena, H.M.R.K.G., Atapattu, A.M.M.P. & Weerasekara, I. (2022) Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal attempts and death rates: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 22, 506. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04158-w
10.1186/s12888-022-04158-w
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Schechter, M., Ronningstam, E., Herbstman, B. & Goldblatt, M.J. (2019) Psychotherapy with suicidal patients: the integrative psychodynamic approach of the Boston suicide study group. Medicina, 55(6), 303. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55060303
10.3390/medicina55060303
Google Scholar
Winnicott, D. (1958) The capacity to be alone. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 39, 416–420.
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Yan, Y., Hou, J., Li, Q. & Yu, N.X. (2023) Suicide before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3346. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043346
10.3390/ijerph20043346
PubMed Google Scholar

Volume41, Issue3

August 2025

Pages 550-559

Some post-pandemic considerations of the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on remote treatment of suicidal patients

Abstract

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

REFERENCES

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Some post-pandemic considerations of the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on remote treatment of suicidal patients

Abstract

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

REFERENCES

References

Related

Information