Adolescents have to cope with several challenges and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of those incongruent with the typical developmental tasks of adolescent age. Some adolescent might be particularly vulnerable in this situation.

This study aimed: 1) to collect data on the mental health and quality of life of adolescents during/after the pandemic; 2. to improve adolescents’ mental health by providing an online prevention program that addresses their actual needs; 3. to accelerate the development of culturally adapted prevention programs by involving an international team, and 4. to contribute to adequate preparation for any similar situation in the future.

Participants aged 11-18 years and their parents/caregivers were recruited online. Data has been collected regularly in a follow-up study by Inventar zur Erfassung der Lebensqualitat and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The baseline data collection was in March 2020 at first restrictions of the COVID pandemic in Europe

In the baseline data 428 adolescents (29.7% boys;70.3% girls) were included. Adolescents reported significantly lower quality of life during the pandemic (F (1,557) = 29.11; p <0.001; R2 = 0.048). There was no significant difference in quality of life according to whether the adolescents live in a household with their siblings ( F (2, 356) = 0.785 p = 0.457; η2 = 0.004), and whether the adolescents have symptoms of hyperactivity (ß = 0.105; p = 0.295).

Prevention based on the results of this study is expected to contribute to maintaining adolescents’ mental health during and after the COVID pandemic.

No significant relationships.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many countries to apply restrictive measures. During the first wave Portugal went through a lockdown, and all the child and adolescents had to stay home and could only contact with the one’s they lived with for several months.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of those restrictions on suicidal ideation in the pediatric population evaluated in a child and adolescent psychiatry emergency care of a tertiary referral hospital.

We conducted an exploratory retrospective study. All the data from discharge notes were collected between March 15th and June 15th of 2020 (n=59), and in the homologous period of the previous year (n=178). The referral after evaluation (primary care, child and adolescent psychiatry consultation, inpatient unit) was considered a measure of severity.

The demographic variables (sex, age) were homogeneous between the two groups (p ≥ 0,05). 17,4% (n=31) of the sample from 2019, and 16,9% (n=10) of the sample of 2020 had suicidal ideation, which was not statistically different between groups (p=1,000). The referral, after evaluation between groups were also not statistically different (p=0,186).

Even though the proportion of patients with suicidal ideation was homogenous during the two periods, the total number of patients evaluated in the emergency room were lower during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic. We assume that the population had fear of seeking help in hospital facilities, but we also believe that the pause on school burdens and the reconnection between some families could have function as protective factors.

No significant relationships.

It remains unclear whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having an impact on suicide rates (SR). Economic insecurity and mental disorders are risk factors for suicide, which may increase during the pandemic.

Data on suicide events in a major city in Germany, and the corresponding life years (LY) were provided by the local authorities. For the year 2020, periods without restrictions on freedom of movement and social contact were compared with periods of moderate and severe COVID-19 restrictions. To avoid distortions due to seasonal fluctuations and linear time trends, suicide risk during the COVID-19 pandemic was compared with data from 2010 to 2019 using an interrupted time series analysis.

A total of 643 suicides were registered and 6 032 690 LY were spent between 2010 and 2020. Of these, 53 suicides and 450 429 LY accounted for the year 2020.

In 2020, SR (suicides per 100 000 LY) were lower in periods with severe COVID-19 restrictions (SR = 7.2, χ2 = 4.033, p = 0.045) compared with periods without restrictions (SR = 16.8). A comparison with previous years showed that this difference was caused by unusually high SR before the imposition of restrictions, while SR during the pandemic were within the trend corridor of previous years (expected suicides = 32.3, observed suicides = 35; IRR = 1.084, p = 0.682).

SR during COVID-19 pandemic are in line with the trend in previous years. Careful monitoring of SR in the further course of the COVID-19 crisis is urgently needed. The findings have regional reference and should not be over-generalised.