According to Gram Research analysis, a study of 1,179 high-risk suicide patients in Korea found that COVID-19 significantly worsened suicidal thoughts in both men and women, with severity increasing by measurable amounts after the pandemic began. The mental health connections changed structurally, with anxiety becoming the most important factor for women and depression for men, suggesting that effective treatment should be tailored by gender rather than using identical approaches for everyone.
A new study of 1,179 people in Korea who had attempted suicide or thought about it found that the COVID-19 pandemic made their mental health challenges significantly worse. Researchers looked at how depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal thoughts were connected before and after the pandemic. They discovered that after COVID-19, suicidal thoughts became more severe in both men and women, and the way these mental health problems connected to each other changed. For women, anxiety became the most important factor to address, while for men, depression took center stage. These findings suggest that mental health support needs to be tailored differently for men and women during and after major crises.
Key Statistics
A cohort study of 1,179 high-risk suicide patients in Korea found that suicidal ideation severity increased significantly in both men and women after the COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.001), published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science in 2026.
Research from a 2026 Korean cohort study of 1,179 suicide-risk participants showed that anxiety became the most central mental health factor for women after COVID-19, while depression emerged as the primary factor for men, suggesting gender-specific intervention targets.
A 2026 network analysis of 1,179 high-risk suicide patients in Korea revealed that while overall mental health network connectivity decreased after COVID-19, the connections between depression, anxiety, and stress remained strong in both sexes.
According to a 2026 study of 1,179 Korean participants at high suicide risk, the pandemic created structural changes in mental health networks, with betweenness centrality increasing for anxiety in women and depression in men.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and stress were connected in people at high risk for suicide before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.
- Who participated: 1,179 people in Korea who had recently attempted suicide or were having serious thoughts about suicide. The group included both men and women.
- Key finding: After COVID-19, suicidal thoughts became significantly more severe in both men and women (P < 0.001). The connections between mental health problems changed, with anxiety becoming more central for women and depression for men.
- What it means for you: If you or someone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts, the pandemic may have made things harder. Mental health support should focus on different areas depending on whether you’re a man or woman. This research suggests that one-size-fits-all mental health programs may not work as well as tailored approaches.
The Research Details
Researchers studied 1,179 people in Korea who were at high risk for suicide, meaning they had recently tried to hurt themselves or were having serious thoughts about it. They collected information about these people’s mental health before COVID-19 hit and again after the pandemic started. They measured five key mental health areas: depression (sadness and hopelessness), anxiety (worry and fear), stress (feeling overwhelmed), impulsivity (acting without thinking), and suicidal thoughts. The researchers used a special computer method called network analysis to see how these five areas were connected to each other, like mapping out which mental health problems were most closely linked together. They analyzed men and women separately because mental health can work differently for each group.
This approach is important because it shows us not just whether people got worse, but how their mental health problems changed in relation to each other. Instead of looking at depression, anxiety, and stress as separate issues, network analysis shows how they influence each other. This helps doctors and counselors understand which mental health problem to focus on first for the best results. By comparing before and after the pandemic, the study captures how a major crisis actually changed the way mental health problems work together.
The study used established, validated tools to measure mental health (like the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression and Beck Anxiety Inventory for anxiety), which means the measurements are reliable. The researchers tested the stability of their network findings and confirmed they were trustworthy. The large sample size of 1,179 people makes the results more likely to reflect what’s happening in the real population. However, this study only looked at people in Korea who were already at high risk for suicide, so the results may not apply to everyone.
What the Results Show
After the COVID-19 pandemic started, suicidal thoughts became noticeably more severe and intense in both men and women in this high-risk group. The statistical analysis showed this increase was highly significant (P < 0.001), meaning it’s very unlikely to have happened by chance. Interestingly, while suicidal thoughts got worse, the overall number of connections between different mental health problems actually decreased. However, the strongest connections, between depression, anxiety, and stress, stayed strong in both men and women. This suggests that these three problems remain tightly linked together, even as the overall network became less connected. After the pandemic, anxiety became the most central mental health factor for women, meaning it was most strongly connected to other problems. For men, depression became the most central factor. This shift is important because it suggests that treatment strategies should differ by gender.
The study found that impulsivity (acting without thinking) became less connected to other mental health problems after the pandemic, suggesting it may be less of a driving force in the network. The researchers confirmed their findings were reliable by testing different versions of their analysis, and the results held up. The confidence intervals (a measure of how certain the findings are) stayed within acceptable ranges, indicating the network structure they found is trustworthy. These secondary findings help confirm that the main results about anxiety and depression being central factors are solid.
Previous research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic increased mental health problems worldwide, but this study adds important detail by showing how the relationships between different mental health problems changed. Earlier studies suggested that depression and anxiety are closely linked, and this research confirms that connection remained strong even after the pandemic. However, the finding that anxiety became more central for women is relatively new and suggests that pandemic-related stress may have affected men and women differently. This aligns with other research showing that men and women often respond differently to major crises.
This study only looked at people in Korea who were already at high risk for suicide, so we can’t be sure these findings apply to people in other countries or to people without suicide risk. The study didn’t include people who weren’t at high risk, so we don’t know if the pandemic affected their mental health networks differently. The researchers couldn’t randomly assign people to experience or not experience the pandemic (obviously), so while they could see changes before and after, they can’t prove the pandemic was the only cause. The study looked at a specific point in time before and after, so we don’t know if these changes stayed the same over months or years.
The Bottom Line
If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a mental health professional immediately. For women at risk, mental health programs should prioritize addressing anxiety as a key factor. For men at risk, depression should be a primary focus. Mental health support should be tailored to your gender and specific situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. These recommendations are based on solid research but should be discussed with your doctor or counselor. (Confidence: Moderate to High)
This research is most relevant for people who have experienced suicidal thoughts or attempts, their families, and mental health professionals working in Korea or similar settings. Mental health organizations and government agencies should use these findings to design better support programs. People who experienced increased mental health challenges during COVID-19 may find these insights helpful. However, if you’re not at high risk for suicide, these specific findings may not directly apply to you, though the general message about tailored mental health support is universal.
Mental health changes don’t happen overnight. If you start working with a counselor or therapist on the specific factors identified in this research (anxiety for women, depression for men), you might notice improvements in weeks to months. However, building lasting mental health is a long-term process that requires consistent effort and support. The pandemic’s effects on mental health may take years to fully resolve, so patience and persistence are important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did COVID-19 make suicidal thoughts worse for people at risk?
Yes. A 2026 study of 1,179 high-risk patients in Korea found suicidal thoughts became significantly more severe after COVID-19 started (P < 0.001). The pandemic intensified mental health challenges in this vulnerable population.
Is anxiety or depression more important to treat after COVID-19?
It depends on gender. For women, anxiety became the most central mental health factor after the pandemic, while for men, depression became primary. Tailored treatment focusing on these specific factors may be more effective than generic approaches.
How are depression, anxiety, and stress connected in people at suicide risk?
A 2026 Korean study found these three remain tightly interconnected even after COVID-19, suggesting they influence each other. Addressing one may help improve the others, making them important targets for integrated mental health treatment.
Should mental health treatment be different for men and women?
Research from a 2026 cohort study suggests yes. The pandemic affected mental health networks differently by gender, with anxiety more central for women and depression for men, indicating personalized treatment strategies may work better.
How reliable are these findings about mental health networks?
The study used validated mental health measurement tools and tested network stability with confidence intervals staying within acceptable ranges (< 0.2), indicating the findings are trustworthy. However, results apply specifically to high-risk Korean populations.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track your daily anxiety and depression levels on a 1-10 scale, plus note any suicidal thoughts. For women, focus extra attention on anxiety tracking; for men, prioritize depression tracking. Record these daily in your app to see patterns over weeks and months.
- If you’re a woman, practice one anxiety-reduction technique daily (like deep breathing or a 5-minute walk). If you’re a man, engage in one mood-lifting activity daily (like talking to a friend or doing something you enjoy). Log which technique you used and how it made you feel.
- Set weekly check-ins to review your tracking data. Look for patterns in what triggers your anxiety (women) or depression (men). Share these patterns with your therapist or counselor. Adjust your coping strategies based on what the data shows is working. Use the app to track whether your tailored approach is helping over 4-8 week periods.
This research describes changes in mental health among high-risk suicide groups in Korea and should not be used for self-diagnosis. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact a mental health professional or crisis helpline immediately. In the United States, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988). This article summarizes research findings and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to mental health treatment or care plans. The findings apply specifically to high-risk populations in Korea and may not generalize to all individuals or settings.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
