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INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global increase in mental health issues, including suicidal behaviors. This study focuses on assessing the impact of the pandemic on the prevalence and characteristics of suicidal behavior at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 580 patients from January 2017 to December 2022, focusing on those aged 18 and above referred for suicide evaluation. Data were collected via chart reviews and analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 25; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: Our study reviewed 580 patient charts, with 555 (95.7%) meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of participants were in the 18-29 age group (66.7%). We observed an increase in the number of cases undergoing suicide attempt assessment post COVID-19, with 296 incidents (53.3%) from March 2020 to December 2022 (about a year and eight months), compared to 259 incidents (46.7%) from January 2017 to March 2020 (over three years). A significant post-pandemic increase was noted in individuals with secondary education or higher (p = 0.004). No significant changes were found in other demographic variables or in the profiles of individuals with an intention to end life before and after the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the nuanced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behavior in Saudi Arabia, revealing an increased demand for suicide assessments, particularly among educated individuals. However, no corresponding increase was observed in the rate of high-intent suicidal cases or other significant variables. The findings underscore the complexity of factors influencing suicidal behavior during the pandemic and the need for targeted mental health interventions. Future research, ideally supported by a national database, is essential for a comprehensive understanding of suicidal behavior in Saudi Arabia.
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BACKGROUND: Concerns about the harmful effects of smartphone use on teenage development have been raised as the use of cell phones among adolescents has risen. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the associations of smartphone usage patterns with Body Image Distortion (BID) and weight loss behaviors among adolescent smartphone users in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2022. We assessed the mean daily length of smartphone use and classified it into quartiles using data from a self-reported survey and data on weekday and weekend use. Self-reported body weight and height were collected via an online survey. Out of the 11384 adolescents, the majority was females (65.7%) and was secondary school students (68.9%). RESULTS: The prolonged smartphone use (301 min/d) was found in 36.4% of adolescents, 181-300 min/d in 27.6% of respondents, 121-180 min/d in 22.4% of respondents, while the modest smartphone use (1-120 min/d) was found only in 13.6% of participants. The duration of smartphone use was significantly associated with BID (P= 0.000); students with middle perceived stress levels (51.4%) and no depressive symptoms (68.9%) used smartphones 121-180 min/d sparingly. However, prolonged smartphone use was significantly associated with the presence of depressive symptoms (42.6%) and high perceived stress levels (21.5%). Weight loss behaviors were significantly associated with smartphone use duration. Modest smartphone use was significantly found in students with normal weight (P= 0.00, 71.9%); however, aerobic physical activity weight loss strategy (P= 0.00, 30.9%) was correlated with prolonged smartphone use. CONCLUSION: Adequate parental advice is required to assist teenagers in developing healthy smartphone usage practices. Digital platform companies may increase their social responsibility for the information generated and delivered on their networks, boosting its beneficial effect.