3 ms·

I'm always a bit baffled that any increase "suicide during COVID" is supposedly something that can be neatly blamed on lockdown measures. Isn't it at least poss

I'm always a bit baffled that any increase "suicide during COVID" is supposedly something that can be neatly blamed on lockdown measures. Isn't it at least possible that people could be committing suicide due to reasons that are directly causally connected to COVID - whether that is fear of illness/death, a sense of the world ending, death/serious illness of a close relative or friend and/or having been sick with COVID themselves? The last possibility seems particularly unnerving given how many people have had COVID and the fact that there do seem to be a good number of 'long-haulers' (some of whom report psychological effects). I don't know if there's a good way of quantifying this, but the idea that every suicide during COVID is 100% casually connected to lockdown measures (or the knock-on consequences of lockdown, such as job losses) seems like an article of faith.

nicoburns 6y ago
Do you really need evidence for this? 99% of the people I know are really struggling with the lockdown measures (although most of them accept they are neccesary). And the vast majority of those are due to lonliness. Only a few are actually scared of covid.
- mech422 6y ago
  Do you not need evidence? Anecdata that results in wrong conclusions could cost people's lives... For instance, what if lack of grief counseling after losing a loved one is a leading cause? We'd want to make sure people that need it can get the counseling, rather then just blame it on lock down.
- criddell 6y ago
  99%? We move in very different circles. A significant number of people that I know are doing pretty well. Working from home, having to travel less, fewer social commitments, and more time to spend on movies, reading, etc... are all things that appeal to some people. I've had more than one conversation that eventually has somebody saying they feel like an asshole for saying so (because they know people are hurting), but they like the new normal.
  - tachyonbeam 6y ago
    It's been about 9 months of heavy restrictions. The few movies you maybe wanted to watch, you've watched them months ago. Even the most pro-lockdown people I knew are getting sick of lockdowns and breaking the rules.
    - jasonv 6y ago
      Many people I know are finally taking the lockdown seriously...

nicoburns 6y ago

Do you really need evidence for this? 99% of the people I know are really struggling with the lockdown measures (although most of them accept they are neccesary). And the vast majority of those are due to lonliness. Only a few are actually scared of covid.

mech422 6y ago
Do you not need evidence? Anecdata that results in wrong conclusions could cost people's lives... For instance, what if lack of grief counseling after losing a loved one is a leading cause? We'd want to make sure people that need it can get the counseling, rather then just blame it on lock down.
criddell 6y ago
99%? We move in very different circles. A significant number of people that I know are doing pretty well. Working from home, having to travel less, fewer social commitments, and more time to spend on movies, reading, etc... are all things that appeal to some people. I've had more than one conversation that eventually has somebody saying they feel like an asshole for saying so (because they know people are hurting), but they like the new normal.
- tachyonbeam 6y ago
  It's been about 9 months of heavy restrictions. The few movies you maybe wanted to watch, you've watched them months ago. Even the most pro-lockdown people I knew are getting sick of lockdowns and breaking the rules.
  - jasonv 6y ago
    Many people I know are finally taking the lockdown seriously...