New discoveries from Lancet shows that suicide rates did not rise in the first few months of the pandemic. The study looked at 21 countries, including high-income and middle-income countries, and observed the number of suicides compared to the expected number that was formulated before the pandemic began. Early data show that self-reported rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts intensified in the first few months of the pandemic, but these figures did not translate into an increase in suicides, the study found.
“Communities could have actively tried to support people at risk, people could have connected in new ways, and some relationships could have been strengthened by households that spend more time with each other,” the study said. “For some people, daily stress could have been reduced during periods of stay at home, and for others the collective feeling of ‘we are all together’ could have been beneficial.”
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by sending TALK to 741741.
Read it at Lancet