Mapping research trends and identifying gaps in suicide literature during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis

Asrul Anuar Zulkifli^1*, Sumarni Mohd Ghazali¹, Khairul Hasnan Amali², Aidi Ahmi³, Nuur Hafizah Md Iderus¹, Sarbhan Singh¹, Balvinder Singh Gill⁴, Mohamad Nadzmi Md Nadzri¹

1. Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

2. Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

3. Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

4. Makmal Kesihatan Awam Kebangsaan (National Public Health Laboratory), Kementerian Kesihatan, Lot 1853 Kg. Melayu, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author : Asrul Anuar Zulkifli. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CITATION: Zulkifli, A. A., Mohd Ghazali, S., Amali, K. H., Ahmi, A., Md Iderus, N. H., Singh, S., Singh Gill, B., & Md Nadzri, M. N. (2026). Mapping research trends and identifying gaps in suicide literature during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis. International Medical Research Journal, 12(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.63719/imrj.2026.12.01.002

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ABSTRACT

Suicide is a major global public health concern, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a substantial impact on mental health worldwide. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global trends and identifies gaps in the literature on suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023 using data retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using Python, BiblioMagika, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer, and a total of 2232 relevant articles were identified. The findings show a concentration of research output in high-income countries, particularly the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, highlighting substantial geographical disparities. In contrast, low- and middle-income countries with high suicide rates, particularly those in Africa and Southeast Asia, remain underrepresented. The University of Melbourne, the University of Toronto, and the University of California emerged as major hubs for mental health research, with extensive international collaboration networks. High-impact journals, especially the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Frontiers in Psychiatry, and the Journal of Affective Disorders, dominated the publication landscape. The analysis also highlights the limited prominence of longitudinal research and themes related to protective factors and resilience. Addressing these gaps may help strengthen the evidence base for suicide research and prevention during future global crises.

KEYWORDS: COVID-19, suicide, suicide behaviour, mental health, bibliometric analysis