In Geneva, one young person in seven has suicidal thoughts

Thanks to the cohort of teenagers enrolled since 2021 in the SEROCoV-KIDS studystudy, the Population Epidemiology Unit of the HUG Primary Care Medicine Department has published one of the few population-based studies of suicidal ideation among adolescents since the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the testimonies of 492 people aged 14 to 17, it shows that 14.4% of young people in Geneva have suicidal thoughts, a high rate but comparable to that measured before the pandemic. The study can be found in the journal Swiss medical weekly.

The study is based on the hypothesis that the life changes brought about by the pandemic may have amplified suicidal behaviour among young people. It therefore explored the prevalence and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents in Geneva, two years after the start of the health crisis.

The study is based on the SEROCoV-KIDS cohort of young people, an unprecedented population-based study designed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and development of young people in the canton of Geneva. Of the 492 adolescents - average age 15.4, 52% girls - who answered the questions on suicidal ideation, 14.4% had reported suicidal ideation in the previous twelve months.

Several risk factors

As Roxane Dumont, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the HUG's Department of Primary Care Medicine and first author of the study, points out, "we carried out a comprehensive multivariate analysis which revealed several factors associated with suicidal ideation, in particular high psychological distress (expressed by 25% of the young people), low self-esteem, identification with the lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) community, and time spent on screens. It also highlighted the protective effect of quality relationships between young people and their parents".

An important vector of suicidal ideation and psychological distress is the level of self-esteem, in its social, academic, family, emotional and physical dimensions. Low self-esteem was reported by 8.3% of the 492 young people. The causality can, of course, be bidirectional: low self-esteem can lead to depressive moods which, conversely, can provoke negative self-evaluation.

Identification with the LGBTQI+ community is also strongly correlated with suicidal ideation. This result highlights the strong disparities between the heterosexual and LGBTQI+ communities in terms of distress and suicidal behaviour, even at an early age. This could be explained by stress factors such as discrimination, social rejection, poor family support and harassment. This is in line with studies showing that sexual minorities are at greater risk of deteriorating physical and psychological health.

Excessive screen time, including for school activities, has also been identified as a major risk factor for suicidal ideation. Spending a lot of time on screens is correlated with deterioration in the mental and physical health of adolescents, and the situation has clearly worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, as other studies addiction to social media is recognised as a major risk factor for psychological distress. Excessive use of social media can reinforce low self-esteem, narcissistic behaviour and loneliness. According to Dr Rémy Barbe, Deputy Head of the Inpatient Unit of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service, "this is often triggered by comparison with others, isolation, reduced face-to-face interaction with peers and exacerbation of the feeling of 'fear of missing out', which refers to the perception that others are living a better life or having better experiences." In addition, intensive use of social media can lead to greater exposure to cyberbullying, 'trolling' (disruption and denigration in the e-community) and other abusive online behaviour and can have dramatic consequences on the lives of teenagers.

Conversely, the study shows that feeling surrounded by loved ones, having a positive relationship with parents and not experiencing difficulties at school increases self-esteem.

The effect of the pandemic on suicidal ideation

COVID-19 has had a major impact on the lives of young people. However, its effect on suicidal behaviour remains unclear. Although a number of studies have shown an increase in psychological consultations (Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Pro Juventute), the rate of suicidal ideation observed in this study two years after the start of the pandemic is comparable to that in the pre-pandemic period. Professor Idris Guessous, Head of the Department of Primary Care Medicine, commented: "This study shows the importance of close, ongoing monitoring of young people's health through population-based studies in Geneva. The results underline how essential it is to encourage the prevention of psychological distress, as well as the quality of the relationship with parents.

The SEROCoV-KIDS cohort (Pre Silvia Stringhini, principal investigator, Pre Klara Posfay Barbe, Pr Idris Guessous, Dr Rémy Barbe) is funded by the Jacobs Foundation and the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The analysis of these results is also supported by the Office cantonal de la santé of the canton of Geneva and the Fondation privée des HUG.

In need of support?

Suicide is the leading cause of death among 15-24 year-olds in Switzerland. Every three to four days, a young person commits suicide in our country.

• MALATAVIE Crisis Unit : 022 372 42
• Website of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department
• Children Action Foundation

Press coverage

Thanks to the participation of young people and their families in the SEROCoV-KIDS study, the results have been widely reported in the press in French-speaking Switzerland:
Le Temps
RTS
Radio Lac
Tribune de Genève
Blick