The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year; 15 of the 15 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Impact of Epidemic Outbreak: The Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Suicide Among Older Adults in Hong Kong
Abstract
Background: Previous studies revealed that there was a significant increase in suicide deaths among those aged 65 and over in 2003. The peak coincided with the majority of SARS cases being reported in April 2003. Aims: In this paper we examine the mechanism of how the SARS outbreak resulted in a higher completed suicide rate especially among older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: We used Qualitative data analysis to uncover the association between the occurrence of SARS and older adult suicide. Furthermore, we used a qualitative study based on the Coroner Court reports to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between SARS and the excessive number of suicide deaths among the elderly. Results: SARS-related older adult suicide victims were more likely to be afraid of contracting the disease and had fears of disconnection. The suicide motives among SARS-related suicide deaths were more closely associated with stress over fears of being a burden to their families during the negative impact of the epidemic. Social disengagement, mental stress, and anxiety at the time of the SARS epidemic among a certain group of older adults resulted in an exceptionally high rate of suicide deaths. Conclusions: We recommend that the mental and psychological well-being of the community, in particular older adults, be taken into careful account when developing epidemic control measures to combat the future outbreak of diseases in the community. In addition, it is important to alert family members to vulnerable individuals who are at potential risk because of their illnesses or anxieties.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“The severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003 was associated with a 30% increase in suicide in those aged 65 years and older; around 50% of recovered patients remained anxious; and 29% of health-care workers experienced probable emotional distress.18, 19, 20”
From Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science (2020) · cites this paper as [18]
In the citing paper
“The severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003 was associated with a 30% increase in suicide in those aged 65 years and older; around 50% of recovered patients remained anxious; and 29% of health-care workers experienced probable emotional distress.18, 19, 20”
From Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science (2020) · cites this paper as [18]
In the citing paper
“The severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003 was associated with a 30% increase in suicide in those aged 65 years and older; around 50% of recovered patients remained anxious; and 29% of health-care workers experienced probable emotional distress.18, 19, 20”
From Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science (2020) · cites this paper as [18]
Citations
Cites
Suicide: A study in sociology.
Durkheim, É. (2004) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/10406-003 · Cited by 3,944
Donnelly, C. A., Ghani, A. C., Leung, G. M., Hedley, A. J., Fraser, C., Riley, S., Abu-Raddad, L. J., Ho, L.-M., Thach, T.-Q., Chau, P., et al. (2003) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(03)13410-1 · Cited by 940
Self-citationFear and Stigma: The Epidemic within the SARS Outbreak
Person, B., Sy, F., Holton, K., Govert, B., Liang, A., the, N. C. I. D., SARS Community Outreach Team (listed in alphabetical order), Garza, B., Gould, D., Hickson, M., et al. (2004) · Emerging Infectious Diseases · doi:10.3201/eid1002.030750 · Cited by 790
F., C. B. (1952) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.109.2.156 · Cited by 498
Cheung, Y. T., Chau, P. H., & Yip, P. S. F. (2008) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.2056 · Cited by 385
Self-citationElderly suicide and the 2003 SARS epidemic in Hong Kong
Chan, S. S. M., Chiu, F. K. H., Lam, C. W. L., Leung, P. Y. V., & Conwell, Y. (2006) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.1432 · Cited by 223
Elderly suicide in Hong Kong—a case-controlled psychological autopsy study
Chiu, H. F. K., Yip, P. S. F., Chi, I., Chan, S., Tsoh, J., Kwan, C. W., Li, S. F., Conwell, Y., & Caine, E. (2004) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1046/j.1600-0447.2003.00263.x · Cited by 180
Self-citationSuicides in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Beijing
Yip, P. S. F. (1996) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.169.4.495 · Cited by 73
Self-citationCheng, C. (2004) · Asian perspective · doi:10.1353/apr.2004.0034 · Cited by 71
Social and Economic Burden of Suicides in Hong Kong SAR
Yip, P. S. F., Liu, K., Law, C. K., & Law, Y. W. (2005) · Crisis · doi:10.1027/0227-5910.26.4.156 · Cited by 40
Self-citation
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- The Hong Kong Geriatrics Society, 2003, Position statement, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in elders
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–362 of 362
Psychiatrists and COVID-19: what is our role during this unprecedented time?
Scriven, M., Geary, E., & Kelly, B. D. (2020) · Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.95
Mental Health in The Context of The COVID 19 Pandemic
Yadav, R., & Saini, V. (2020) · International Journal of Coronaviruses · doi:10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-20-3367
Home containment and COVID-19: a perspective about the mental health of the geriatric population
Nunes, N. D. S. M., do Nascimento, J. S. F., Rangel, M. E. D. A., de Mello, E. V. L., do Nascimento, J. K. F., Azizi, M. A. A., Moreno, A. M., & Orsini, M. A. (2020) · Enfermagem Brasil · doi:10.33233/eb.v19i4.4385
The Covid-19 Pandemic and its Effect on the Elderly: A Review
Nadri, M., & Zubair, U. (2020) · Open Science Journal · doi:10.23954/osj.v5i3.2572
Psychological Experiences of Patients with COVID-19: A Phenomenological Study
Siqian, W., Ying-jie, L., Hangying, S., Tongyao, W., Chen, J., Xingmei, F., & Chao-Pin, H. (2020) · Journal of Nursing and Practice · doi:10.36959/545/383
Older adults coping in times of crisis; vulnerable or valuable untapped resource?
Wallace, R., Lua, C. T., & Greene, E. (2021) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.5513
YIP, P. S. F. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-33-6629-9_5
Self-citation12. Firearm Violence in Disasters and Pandemics
Degutis, L. C. (2021) · American Public Health Association eBooks · doi:10.2105/9780875533124ch12
Stress and Sexual Dysfunctions During COVID-19: Things to Ponder
Sidi, H., & Das, S. (2021) · IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia · doi:10.31436/imjm.v20i3.1952
إستراتيجيات المعايشة مع جائحة فيروس كورونا المستجد (COVID-19) في المجتمع العربي
Amer, A. N. E. S., Moussa, M., & Souici, D. Y. (2021) · ARAB JOURNAL FOR SECURITY STUDIES · doi:10.26735/dnmg7446
The dilemma of prioritizing: are we ignoring the elderly
Behera, A. (2021) · International Journal of Advances in Medicine · doi:10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20213255
Shropshire, S. A. (2008) · Digital Commons - East Tennessee State University (East Tennessee State University)
Oh, Y. S., & Song, N. K. (2021) · American Journal of Health Behavior · doi:10.5993/ajhb.45.6.11
Research on the Emotions of Uninfected People during the COVID-19 Epidemic in ChinaPreprint
Chen, G., & Yue, J.-J. (2022) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2022.03.22.22272730
Mental Health and COVID-19: where are we in 2022
Shah, A. A. (2022) · Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences · doi:10.36570/jduhs.2022.1.1624
Effects of Quarantine on Mental Health Among Residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Alkhudhairy, M., Alsubaie, J., Rabba, E. B., Alotaibi, S., & Ruwaished, T. (2022) · Journal of Healthcare Sciences · doi:10.52533/johs.2022.2301
Wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a secondary data analysisPreprint
Murphy, J., & Elliot, M. J. (2021) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/pv4qs
Ospina, J. P. Z., Patiño-Lugo, D. F., Ramírez, P. A., Marín-Orozco, I. C., Salazar, P. V., Vélez-Marín, V. M., & García-Arias, D. (2022) · Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública · doi:10.26633/rpsp.2022.45
Epidemic and Pandemic Impacts on the Elderly Population
Kovacich, A. A., Fischer, W. A., & Austin, C. (2022) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108942751.064
Suicide and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Wetherall, K., Cleare, S., Zortea, T. C., & O’Connor, R. C. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41319-4_95-1
Suicide and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Wetherall, K., Cleare, S., Zortea, T. C., & O’Connor, R. C. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-42003-1_95
“Piece of Mind” and “Wellbeing Town”
Barnes, S., Bradley, M., & Williams, A. (2022) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-7589-8.ch047
Oruç, M. A., & Özdemir, Ş. (2023) · Black Sea Journal of Health Science · doi:10.19127/bshealthscience.1290185
Yazıcı, E., & Şahin, S. (2023) · doi:10.59537/saupress.2310
Loneliness, Isolation, Neglect, and Abuse in Elderly Population Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Das, A. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-1467-8_6
Amorim, M. F., Mroczek, T., Aranha, M. R. M., Oliveira, P. S., Kerber, V. L., & Bertolini, S. M. M. G. (2023) · Revista Caribeña de Ciencias Sociales · doi:10.55905/rcssv12n1-028
Differences in the Level of Burnout between Recreational Boxers and Non-athletes
Zboncak, Ľ., Kraček, S., Kukurová, K., Gregor, T., & Mancovič, M. (2023) · International journal of human movement and sports sciences · doi:10.13189/saj.2023.110404 · Cited by 1
Identifying High-Risk Individuals for Suicide During Covid-19 Pandemic: Prevention and Intervention
Aslam, N., Malik, J. A., & Khan, M. S. (2023) · Life and Science · doi:10.37185/lns.1.1.303
Usman, I. M., Ayuba, J. T., Kabanyoro, A., Eze, E. D., Kanee, R. B., Kasozi, K. I., Archibong, V. B., Etukudo, E. M., Lemuel, A. M., & Aigbogun, E. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4528230
COVID-19로 인한 노인의 신체활동, 사회참여 및 정신건강 변화 분석
한, 승., 김, 민., 감, 현., 박, 현., 김, 도., 허, 웅., 이, 정., & 오, 태. (2023) · 한국체육학회지 · doi:10.23949/kjpe.2023.7.62.4.29
Effectiveness of Crisis Intervention Program in Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in COVID-19
Mohammadi, N., Sadri Damirchi, E., Sheykholeslami, A., Ghamari Givi, H., & Ahmadboukani, S. (2023) · Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal · doi:10.32592/ircmj.2023.25.9.1808
Covid-19 & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Clinical Intricacies
Prakash, A. (2023) · International Journal of Pharmacognosy & Chinese Medicine · doi:10.23880/ipcm-16000245
Bienestar, espiritualidad y temor al COVID-19 en adultos mayores durante el primer año de pandemia
Bartra, D. H. R., & Cassaretto, M. (2024) · Persona · doi:10.26439/persona2023.n26(2).6600
Gupta, R., Mohanty, V. R., Balappanavar, A. Y., Chahar, P., Rijhwani, K., & Bhatia, S. (2024) · Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry · doi:10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_125_22
Telemedicine and Digital Mental Health Technologies
Gould, C. E., Alfaro, A. J., Yenko, I., & Hitching, R. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-53976-3_16
Krüger-Malpartida, H., Arévalo-Flores, M., Anculle-Arauco, V., Dancuart-Mendoza, M., & Pedraz‐Petrozzi, B. (2024) · Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatría (English ed ) · doi:10.1016/j.rcpeng.2022.04.004
Kozlov, V. A., Голенков, А. В., & Zotov, P. B. (2024) · Суицидология · doi:10.32878/suiciderus.24-15-02(55)-29-56
Qiu, Q.-M., & Yu, X. (2025) · World Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.5498/wjp.v15.i2.97971
Pandemics and Suicidal Behaviour
Menon, V., Varadharajan, N., & Ganesh, R. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-4028-7_9
Huang, C.-H. S., Shutes‐David, A., Payne, S., Wilson, K., Brown, K., Vintch, K. M., Seto, E., & Tsuang, D. W. (2025) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2025.05.23.25328188
Hoti, A. (2025) · European journal of economics, law and social sciences · doi:10.2478/ejels-2025-0015
Kielan, A. J., & Stradomska, M. W. (2025) · Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna · doi:10.15557/pipk.2025.0011
Mehrizi, A. A. H., Aeenparast, A., Tafazzoli-Harandi, H., Nabaee, H., Farzadi, F., & Riazi, F. (2025) · Payesh (Health Monitor) Journal · doi:10.61882/payesh.24.5.723
Chau, S. W. H., Wong, O. W. H., Ramakrishnan, R., Chan, S. S. M., Wong, E. K.-Y., Li, P. Y. T., Raymont, V., Elliot, K., Rathod, S., Delanerolle, G., et al. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14385480
Chau, S. W. H., Wong, O. W. H., Ramakrishnan, R., Chan, S. S., Wong, E. K.-Y., Li, P. Y. T., Raymont, V., Elliot, K., Rathod, S., Delanerolle, G., et al. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14385483
Pisano, S., Catone, G., Gritti, A., Almerico, L., Pezzella, A., Santangelo, P., Bravaccio, C., Iuliano, R., & Senese, V. P. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14385102
Churchill, R., Riadi, I., Kervin, L. M., Teo, K., & Cosco, T. D. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14559050
Pre-pandemic suicidal ideation and preventive behavior during COVID-19: A prospective cohort studyPreprint
Sueki, H., & Ueda, M. (2021) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/829gc
Fang, D., Thomsen, M. R., & Nayga, R. M. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14337675
Chau, S. W. H., Wong, O. W. H., Ramakrishnan, R., Chan, S. S., Wong, E. K.-Y., Li, P. Y. T., Raymont, V., Elliot, K., Rathod, S., Delanerolle, G., et al. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14385486
Chau, S. W. H., Wong, O. W. H., Ramakrishnan, R., Chan, S. S., Wong, E. K.-Y., Li, P. Y. T., Raymont, V., Elliot, K., Rathod, S., Delanerolle, G., et al. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14385477
Madkor, O. R. E., Elsorady, K. E., Abdelhady, D. H., AbdulJawad, P., & Aly El Gabry, D. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14361390
Perspective Chapter: Aftermath of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Individuals
Ramoshaba, D. J. (2025) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.1011005
Chen, Y., Niu, L., Li, H., Li, Y., Hao, Z., Sun, F., & Wei, S. (2025) · Health & Social Care in the Community · doi:10.1155/hsc/6655569
The Dengue Anxiety Scale (DENAS): A new tool for assessing disease-specific anxiety
Torales, J. C., Barrios, I., O’Higgins, M. G., Torres-Romero, A. D., Caycho-Rodríguez, T., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A. (2026) · Industrial Psychiatry Journal · doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_240_25
Psychiatric impact of the COVID-19 pandemic : role of the lockdown and of social inequalities
Moulin, F. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/af78562az9e14z487cza2a9z192747fbb0b0
Validation of the Arabic coronavirus anxiety scale among mothers of infants in Saudi Arabia
Kattan, W. E., Barkin, J. L., Almutari, M., Khoja, L., Abdelmoaty, M., Alghamdi, K. M., & Alfakeh, S. A. (2026) · Maternal Health Neonatology and Perinatology · doi:10.1186/s40748-026-00266-7
Reflective insights on navigating the research process in higher education during a health crisis
Pounder, P. A. (2026) · Caribbean Educational Research Journal · doi:10.1108/cerj-04-2026-0007
Metadata
- Authors
- Yip, P. S. F., Cheung, Y. T., Chau, P. H., & Law, Y. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Venue
- Crisis
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2010-03
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 86-92
- ISSN
- 0227-5910 (ISSN-L)
- 2151-2396
- OpenAlex
- W2148621579
- Cited by
- 363
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 136 · 2020: 100 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Crisis (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Keywords
- SARS, suicide, older adults, fear of infection, social disengagement, psychological stress, anxiety, family burden, Hong Kong
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Cross-Sectional Studies, Disease Outbreaks, Fear, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Male, Motivation, Social Isolation, Stress, Psychological, Suicide, Cost of Illness, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Suicidal Ideation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review