New data disproves a big concern about Covid-19 lockdowns

[DonViejo]

Critics of lockdowns claimed they would cause a spike in suicides. That didn’t happen.

By German Lopez @germanrlopez [email protected] Apr 6, 2021, 8:40am EDT

Last year, as then-President Donald Trump railed against Covid-19 lockdowns and called on states to reopen their economies, he claimed the shutdowns would lead to a spike in suicides: “You’re going to lose more people by putting a country into a massive recession or depression. You’re going to lose people. You’re going to have suicides by the thousands.”

But new data suggests that the number of suicides actually decreased in the US last year. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, suicides totaled fewer than 45,000 in 2020, down from about 47,500 in 2019 and more than 48,000 in 2018.

So far, this seems to be true globally. England saw no increase in suicides in the aftermath of lockdowns, Louis Appleby, a researcher on suicide and self-harm at the University of Manchester, wrote for the medical journal BMJ. The same seems to be true in other nations, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, and Sweden, based on data for the first few months of lockdowns around the globe.

“Our conclusions at this stage, however, should be cautious. These are early findings and may change,” Appleby wrote in BMJ. “Beneath the overall numbers there may be variations between demographic groups or geographical areas. After all, the impact of covid-19 itself has not been uniform across communities.”

more
https://www.vox.com/2021/4/6/22368210/suicides-covid-19-coronavirus-lockdown-2020

[tanyev]

1. Donald Trump was never concerned about suicides.

That's something someone else told him to say.

[underpants]

6. I have to admit I was a bit shocked when that became a Hannity fueled talking point

I thought that it seemed strange. In general but that they went directly to that.

[underpants]

2. Interesting. Totally counter to everything we've heard BUT the mental health element has been brutal

I know of several kids that are really struggling with this. Mostly a lack of social contact - Zooming school isn’t doing it.

[jimfields33]

3. I think some schools are having in class summer school to catch up

I’m sure most students will be back on track in no time. Kids are very resilient.

[Silent3]

7. Maybe it's balanced out by introverts who are actually happier

A heard about a study recently that showed many introverts moods improved during the lockdown. Probably due to the relief of not being forced to socialize more than they really want to.

[underpants]

8. I could definitely see that

Ima little of both but I found the lockdown to be pretty calming to me. I in no way mean to be dismissive of mental health issues that have arisen. If anything the acknowledgement and discussion of mental health may be something good coming out of all this.

I looked on it as a sit back at the beach or campground to relax and take stock. I quit smoking hold it CRAP it was a year ago today. WOW it’s April 6th again. I have been back into and out of the office since July so I haven’t really been locked in like some people.

[Midnight Writer]

14. I'm an introvert, and I have to say for me I've been enjoying the isolation.

However, I have talked with people who are climbing the walls. It seems to put quite an emotional burden on them to feel isolated.

I suspect there will be long term societal changes when things "get back to normal".

[Johnny2X2X]

9. It has been tough for some

Kids especially, but people have also been spending more time with their families, so I surmise that this led to people with issues being more able to get the help they need.

But as others have pointe out, Republicans care zero about the mental health of children, it was just a way for them to go along with Trump on opening the schools.

[Claire Oh Nette]

11. Faux concern

When Republicans began showing faux concern for the increase in suicides, they never offered any evidence, just speculation.

They showed zero interest in increased access to mental health care or counseling. They only pointed to suicide among children to convince people to open schools so parents could go back to work to make the economy look good for the former guy's re-election.

If they had truly been concerned, they'd have worn masks and helped keep the curve as flat as possible to help us get back to "normal" sooner.

If the GOP says it, count on studies to show the opposite.

In terms of kids being "behind," all kids globally have faced disrupted school years. Our kids are no more "behind" than any other kids. There's not a bus schedule to keep. Parents concerned about their child falling behind can alleviate a lot of worry by simply having their kid read for twenty minutes every day. Out loud to a younger sibling is better, but that's enough.

[Johnny2X2X]

12. And there was data all year

In threads about this subject, I'd point to the data that showed that suicides were down so far in 2020 and get ignored.

Nothing matters to Republicans except pretending Trump is right.

[FakeNoose]

4. If Chump had "won" the election, there would have been a national suicide

[brewens]

5. They didn't give a flying rats assed fuck about people being depressed or suicidal! Just a scare

tactic to get people to rebel against lockdowns.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. I hope this gets picked up by all the networks

It was a prime talking point for 9 months for the right even when we had data throughout the year suggesting suicides were falling.

Doesn't mean there weren't more mental health issues, just means that maybe people were able to get more help. Great news.

[panader0]

13. If trump said it would happen,

no studies were needed to prove it wrong.

[Midnight Writer]

15. Reminds me of when Trump claimed to be worried about birds being killed by windmills.