The effect of unemployment on suicidal ideation among men: evidence from Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic presented governments with unprecedented choices that had to be made under conditions of imperfect information. One of the key trade-offs pertains to decision-making around social distancing mandates to reduce the risk of infection, resulting in high levels of joblessness. Against this backdrop, the present study examines the relationship between COVID-19-related job loss and suicidal ideation among Australian men.

METHODS

Using the Ten to Men dataset, we use multivariate logistic regression analysis to unpack the change in odds of suicidal ideation across eight additive models. This dataset used a stratified, multi-stage cluster sampling technique, and the final sample size is n = 963. A large number of control variables were introduced sequentially to address endogeneity and prevent omitted variable bias.

RESULTS

COVID-19-related job loss in Australia is significantly associated with suicidal ideation in our full model. Men who were made unemployed during the pandemic were 2.77 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than men who remained in employment.

CONCLUSION

These odds are much higher than meta-analytic evidence of the relationship between pre-COVID-19 unemployment and suicidal ideation, suggesting that unemployed Australian men experienced high levels of suicidal thoughts during the pandemic. The Australian Government's wage subsidy program, JobKeeper, may have provided a financial social safety net, but our research suggests, uniquely, that it was the loss of work relationships, not the loss of income, that is the main concern. Work, for men, is not just a paycheck; it is a source of meaning and provides a purpose in life.