Re: It ain't me...

Quote
JamesJM
CDC

Here's a quote from the article:

"The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and to mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.* Symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April–June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019 (1,2). To assess mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the pandemic, representative panel surveys were conducted among adults aged ≥18 years across the United States during June 24–30, 2020. Overall, 40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder (30.9%), symptoms of a trauma- and stressor-related disorder (TSRD) related to the pandemic† (26.3%), and having started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19 (13.3%). The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18–24 years (25.5%), minority racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic respondents [18.6%], non-Hispanic black [black] respondents [15.1%]), self-reported unpaid caregivers for adults§ (30.7%), and essential workers¶ (21.7%). Community-level intervention and prevention efforts, including health communication strategies, designed to reach these groups could help address various mental health conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks for providing the information. It's very sobering. But I interpret it as being an advisory of what could happen given the increase in stressors due to the virus and state-sponsored mitigation efforts. Something that officials need to be aware of, but not necessarily a definite pre-cursor.

But this is where I BELIEVE zn's comments (in part) may have relevance. Despite these quantifiable stressors that could lead to an increase in suicide...they haven't materialized to such an anticipated level - which is a good thing.

Now, there could be a variety of reasons for this. But he (zn) seems to be arguing that the most severe government-sponsored mitigation efforts (i.e. strict stay-at-home orders, no gatherings, etc.) are no longer in place and haven't been in place for some time now (though I heard that Chicago may be revisiting their stay-at-home order soon). The easing of these types of restrictions (which only lasted for, what...60 days in the first place?) has likely eased those increased stressors. Whereas some at-risk individuals may contemplate suicide due to a lack of social interaction, they don't seem to be just because they have to wear a mask in Walmart; get their Starbucks coffee through the drive-thru; or, attend church outside in a parking lot. Businesses and institutions seem to have adapted for the most part to virus-mitigation efforts...and so have the people who might be at-risk to mental health challenges.

The last point that I'll raise deals with zn's comments on leadership. It's fairly clear that national leaders knew the severity this virus could bring to the country back in January of this year. If there was huge concern about how it might affect mental health, why wasn't there a ramping up of the "community-level intervention and prevention efforts, including health communication strategies, designed to reach these groups..." that "...could help address various mental health conditions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic" that was mentioned in the CDC information you posted? Same goes for robust financial assistance to businesses and individuals to keep them afloat?

If this country's leaders can spend billions/trillions to keep Wall St., General Motors, the airlines, and cruise ship industries alive...why can't they for people facing increased issues due to the opioid problem? The "increase in suicides" argument appears to be a purely political one with no current basis in reality.