Why suicide risk may increase as we cope with COVID-19
The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus has upended every aspect of people's lives. More than three-quarters of Americans say they are living in relative isolation, avoiding small gatherings and public places. The communal hobbies and events that bring people joy and meaning — sports, movies, birthday parties, weddings — are now virtual affairs, if they happen at all. Meanwhile, the economic impact of COVID-19 is staggering: more than 16 million U.S. workers filed for unemployment in just three weeks.
Trauma and grief follow in COVID-19's wake as the disease destroys our collective sense of normalcy, kills thousands of Americans, and threatens to be deadly for a projected 60,000 people in the U.S. The loneliness, anxiety, and depression that, for some, accompany the pandemic has prompted concern about a brewing mental health crisis. Now, a new article published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that COVID-19 may lead to increased risk of suicide. The suicide rate, which is 14.2 per 100,000 people, has been rising steadily for years. Read more...
More about Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Social Good, and Health