Can COVID-19 Increase the Rate of Suicide?
I know COVID-19 pandemic has been a peculiar experience for all of us. First, we heard about the rising rates of COVID cases in other countries. Then, a particular individual who leads this country said that we had nothing to worry about, “claiming the virus was like a flu and would disappear miraculously” (Kaczynski, 2020). Soon after these statements the corona virus arrived in Chicago, IL, quickly spread throughout the country, and became the epidemic that we now know as COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us know people who have contracted the virus, and some of us may even know individuals who have died from the virus. If you contract this infectious virus it could be a horrific experience, but did you know the Corona Virus isn’t only going to affect people’s physical health? According to Dr. Nandini Chakraborty, “a study looking at the emotional indicators in a group of Weibo users before and after the declaration of COVID‐19 on January, 20, 2020 found that negative emotions (anxiety, depression and indignation) and sensitivity to social risks increased, while the scores of positive emotions and life satisfaction deceased”(Chakraborty, 2020). As we know, anxiety and depression can often lead to suicidal thoughts, and even suicide. Economic downfall can also lead to an increase in suicide rates. According to Roger S. McIntyre, author of Preventing Suicide in the Context of the COVID‐19 Pandemic, “each percentage point increase in unemployment was accompanied by a 0.79% rise in suicide” (McIntyre, 2020). With that being mentioned, COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on our suicide rates since so many companies are going out of business.
Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 on the Black Community
The increase in unemployment is hitting black communities the hardest. According to Imani Moise and Anna Reuters, authors of Black-owned Businesses Reel from COVID's Blows, “cities with large Black populations have been disproportionately hit. Detroit, which was nearly 80 per cent Black as of the last census data, had an unemployment rate of 23 per cent in May compared to the national average of 13 percent. New Orleans, with a Black population of 60 percent, had an unemployment rate of 16 percent in May” (Moise & Rueters, 2020). The unemployment rate along with the lack of mental health awareness in the black community may have a detrimental impact on the suicide rates among African Americans. It is so important to make sure we are not only free of the virus, but also free from the mental turmoil that may come from the lifestyle changes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What can Social Workers do to Decrease Suicide Rates?
Social workers are needed more than ever during epidemics, especially since our current pandemic is effecting people’s mental health. We need not let our client’s depression and anxiety escalate to suicide. According to Sarah Gehlert and Teri Browne, authors of Handbook of Health Social Work, “The first step in suicide assessment is suicidal ideation”(Gehlert & Browne, 2012, p. 194). As social workers, one of the things we can say to our clients is, “Its sound like you’ve been feeling pretty discouraged and maybe a bit desperate. Have you thought about hurting yourself” (Gehlert & Browne, 2012, p. 194). If the client responds saying that they have felt like hurting themselves, then this is a clear sign of suicidal ideation (suicidal ideation is also known as suicidal thoughts). The feeling of hopelessness often accompanies these thoughts of suicide. The fact that there is no cure for the virus can leave many individuals feelings hopeless. Apara Mahal Sylvester sums ups the current mental state of much of our society , she mentions, “In a world which is now full of fear and much hopelessness, striving to be cheerful and happy is becoming more of a daily struggle rather than something which had been previously taken for granted” (Sylvester, 2020). With that being mentioned, the focus on mental health awareness should be at an all-time high. Even though we have no cure for the virus, social workers have the important job of preventing suicides by recommending interventions before suicidal ideations escalate.
Suicidal Thoughts to due to Working from Home
All of us should be practicing social distancing; some of us are forced to practice social distancing since our jobs have us working from home. Isolating yourself by working from home can cause an extreme amount of stress. According to Alyssa Place, senior editor of Employee Benefit News, “During the coronavirus pandemic, 91% percent of employees say they've experienced moderate to extreme stress while working from home” (Place, 2020). Working remotely can be complicated for extraverts who need social interaction to feel happy. This type of isolation can even cause stress for introverts like myself; I often wish I had more face-to-face interactions while interning at my organization. Overall, the workplace often ignores the depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses of their employees (Place, 2020). In order for us to stay healthy, it is key that we learn how to cope with COVID related stress since we do not know when this pandemic is going to end.
Important Notes
- From this blog post, I hope you realize that the COVID-19 pandemic is not only affecting people’s physical health. In order to keep the suicide rates down there needs to be much focus on mental health as well during these trying times. You may feel depressed, anxious, stressed, and hopeless due to the lifestyle changes of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the feeling of hopelessness gets to be too overwhelming call the suicide hotline at 1 (800)-273-8255.
~ Christian Bate Soto
References
Imani Moise and Anna Irrera. (July 20, 2020 Monday). Black-owned businesses reel from COVID's blows; Some fear U.S. recovery efforts will leave people of colour behind. National Post's Financial Post & FP Investing (Canada). Retrieved from https://advance-lexis-com.dom.idm.oclc.org/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:60D4-1971-JBKR-R2RV-00000-00&context=1516831.
PLACE, A. Mental health is reaching a breaking point during COVID: A person will die by suicide every 20 seconds this year. Employers can be on the front lines to offer a lifeline to struggling employees. Employee Benefit News, [s. l.], v. 34, n. 5, p. N.PAG, 2020. Disponível em: http://search.ebscohost.com.dom.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=145668158&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Acesso em: 29 set. 2020.
Sylvester, A. M. (2020). COVID – A Caring Reflection. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Vol. 74(2) 141. doi:https://doi-org.dom.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/1542305020921771
Chakraborty, N. (2020). The COVID‐19 pandemic and its impact on mental health. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/pnp.666
McIntyre, R. S. (n.d.). Preventing suicide in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. World Psychiatric Association, 19, 250-251. doi:10.1002/wps.20767
Kaczynski, A., Steck, E., & McDermott, N. (2020, April 18). 'Nothing to worry about' and 'it's being contained': How Trump officials downplayed the coronavirus. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/politics/kfile-trump-officials-coronavirus/index.html
Christian,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your post. I think it's so important for people to understand how Covid can impact an individuals mental health. As social workers, we have such a great platform to address these issues and start to educate other people on the ways to care for those in need of support during these times. Through my own research I have found so many online support groups that have formed during the pandemic because people realized how isolation and being quarantined can negatively effect mental health. I think it's great that there are resources out there and these individuals aren't going unnoticed.
-Tess Boretti
This post was such an important reminder to reach out and check on others. With everyone so concerned about their own health and finances, it can be easy to overlook the struggles of others. Social distancing has been very difficult, especially for persons experiencing unemployment and/or grief. To see that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the Black populations is both disheartening and unsurprising. It seems that this pandemic has come to reinforce the reality that Black life in the United States is under a constant attack of racism and oppression that impacts everything from health to income and education.
ReplyDeleteHi Christian,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this blog post. I think that the scariest part of Covid is the unknown. When this first appeared in the US, I never thought it would eventually make it to the town that I live in. When it arrived in my town, it finally hit home. I know that my anxiety stems from the fact that this is all brand new. We do not know much about this virus. We do not know the long lasting effects, what medicines will help fight this virus, or even if this virus will ever leave. I cannot imagine what people with severe depression are going through. This post has reminded me to check in with others. It was also reminded me that I am not alone in this feeling of constant anxiety.
Thanks,
Taylor Wise
Hi
ReplyDeleteHi Christian,
DeleteSorry for the typo up top.
I really enjoyed your post. This topic should not be taken lightly because of the facts and how COVID 19 is not going any where any time soon. The uncertainty that comes with a pandemic can be overwhelming and scary. I think the part about people working from home feeling stressed out is so true and what makes it harder is that they are being isolated from their colleagues. Humans need social connection and that is the only way that we as a society will get through this. Social workers have the opportunity to teach individuals about self-care and the importance of having social support systems. No one should feel like they are alone in this and we should try and check in on our family and friends because people are handling it in different ways. Suicide is a very relevant topic and needs to be assessed by mental health workers. Lastly, mental health professionals are feeling stressed during this time because they feel challenges with virtual care.
Hi Christian- thanks for your super relevant post! I often feel that people like talking about mental health on a very surface level. If it gets too deep or, as you mention, if it enters the workplace, people sort of just shut down. I work with students as an academic counselor in higher education and the mental health challenges they face in the context of COVID are very real. I have students for whom this pandemic has brought serious traumas and anxieties surrounding their well being and that of their loved ones. They are paranoid not only for their own safety but for that of their siblings, older parents, friends, and more. The isolation has really been catastrophic for so many of them- they have far fewer outlets for coping and they cannot socialize to the same extent, reducing their ability to get help from those in their circle. At the same time, I will note that some of my students have really benefited as a result of the challenges that COVID has brought about. Some students have used this period of difficulty as an opportunity to reflect on aspects of their lives that they wish to change or improve. Many have become incredibly self reflective and they have leaned into supports that they knew were available but had been unwilling to engage with before. I do believe that there is always some light.. even when it feels like there's nothing but darkness all around us. -Melissa Muth Martinez
ReplyDeleteHey Christian,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the post. Mental health is an important factor to consider when it comes to COVID in our society. Our world is completely different there are so many things that we need to adjust to. These changes can cause a lot of distress and emotional pain to individuals. We are unsure how long this will last and when we will go back to our normal lives. The unknown can cause fears, but one thing is for sure we are in this together.
Thanks
Isaac