COVID-19 has claimed the lives of almost 1.5 million people across the globe so far, but the World Health Organization's official death toll doesn't tell the whole story. All over the world, people's lives have been turned upside down by this pandemic. Sometimes, things get so bad that a person starts to edge toward suicide — and in this new, socially distanced, world, that can be all too easy to miss.
Is COVID-19 fueling a rise in suicide rates?
In short, we don't know yet.
Only one case of a suicide directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the medical literature; Sojni Begum, suspected of having COVID, took her own life after doctors refused to treat or even examine her for fear of being infected themselves. This tragedy — and, frankly, outrage — does not tell the full story, however.
When you look at a list of suicide risk factors alongside things that make people less likely to take their own lives, it doesn't take long to see parallels with the current situation. Profound social isolation, feeling hopeless, feeling trapped, depression, job loss, financial desperation, substance abuse, domestic violence, and lack of access to (mental) health care all lead to a higher risk of suicide, and as a secondary consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are falling victim to all of these risk factors. Social support and easy access to mental health services are two protective factors that have been eroded since the pandemic started, meanwhile.
Data from this current pandemic remains scarce, but we do know that depression, anxiety, and feelings of crippling uncertainty have been on the rise since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, as well as that fewer people report happiness and feelings of positivity. Substance abuse rates have spiked, along with domestic violence rates. One study published in The Lancet predicted, on the basis of past statistics including the 2008 recession, that nearly 10,000 people will commit suicide because of coronavirus-related unemployment. We also know that, since the COVID-19 pandemic started, more people are willing to admit to having suicidal thoughts in the past month.
The worst may still be ahead of us, since people tend to come together in solidarity, offering a temporary "grace period", at the start of a serious emergency. People who might otherwise have been very down were lifted up by an "we're all in this together" in the spring of 2020, but now that the toll of the pandemic is starting to grate on our collective mental health, more people are at risk of being left behind.
We're all in this together: What we can all do to prevent suicide and raise our collective quality of life
The whole world has been going through a rough ride, but that ride has also featured unprecedented solidarity. More open discussions about mental health and mental health struggles may be one of the upsides of the pandemic. With hopes of mass immunization against COVID-19 now finally on the horizon, we have to believe that this pandemic will soon come to an end. Let's make a commitment to keeping the lines of communication open, whether we talk in person or online.
Some of the most significant protective factors against suicide — the things someone can have in their life to help them get through the hard patches — are also some of the simplest. They're things we can all do for each other. Ask the people in your life how they are, and what they are struggling with. Listen, without judgment, and acknowledge their feelings. Help to make their lives better if you can. Show them that you care. If you are struggling yourself, talk about it. Ask for help, and accept it. Don't suffer alone, but reach out. The people who love you will be glad that you did, and sometime soon, you will, too. The pain you're in right now will end, and a whole other chapter is waiting for you, perhaps right around the corner from now. Aren't you curious to see what it will be like?
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that we, as a society, need to prioritize mental health services, and make sure that everyone who is currently in crisis has immediate access to life-saving services that are just as important as COVID-19 care. With many health systems still overburdened by the pandemic, however, non-profit organizations like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (dial 988) and the Samaritans still have their doors open 24/7.
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