Page 27 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Human behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Figure 29. Excess dementia deaths. Image obtained from Chen et al. (2023).

7.3. Deaths of despair (DoD) The total number of US DoD in 2020 was 377,000, about
With increased stress and loneliness, DoD significantly 20,000 higher than the number of 2020 US COVID-19
increased in 2020. Entrup et al. (2023) reported deaths. Moreover, as COVID deaths were more prevalent
among the elderly, the YLL from DoD in 2020 were greater
that in 2020, COVID-19 caused 350,831 deaths and than those lost to COVID-19, as shown in Figure 30.
4,405,699 years of life lost (YLL). By contrast, DoD
contributed to 6,045,819 YLL. There were more YLLs 7.4. Mental health
in DoD because COVID-19 mainly killed the old, and It is important to remember that there is a bias risk in
DoD happened across all ages. Men had more deaths and survey questions, particularly about maladies that do not
YLL than women due to COVID-19 and DoD. Among have definitive medical tests. It is hard to imagine someone
White Americans and those with more than one race replying negatively in October 2020 to a question like: “Are
identification, both had a greater burden of DoD YLL than you more anxious and/or depressed than you were a year
COVID-19 YLL. However, for all other racial categories ago?” That said, many studies reported increased rates of
(Native American/Alaskan Native, Asian, Black/African anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Santomauro
American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander), COVID-19 et al. (2021) reported a meta-analysis of 48 studies
caused more YLL than DoD. Surprisingly, as in Australia published between January 01, 2020, and January 29, 2021,
and New Zealand, the number of suicides in the US did as summarized in Figure 31. The increases in rates during
not increase. They, however, did so in Japan, South Korea, the pandemic for various mental health problems are
India, Mexico, and Thailand. shown by pink relative to purple.

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 21 https://doi.org/10.36922/IJPS025110040