The Dual Pandemics of Suicide & COVID-19: What We Know Now & Prevention Tips
Though we are slowly coming out of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic through the use of widespread vaccinations, we are still uncovering core causes that have led to a second pandemic – suicidal thoughts and behavior. Social interaction and structured schedules, the two main pillars of human civilization, have been distorted leading to major psychological effects.
A report was recently written by the National Center for Biotechnical Information (NCBI) called: “The dual pandemic of suicide and COVID-19: A biopsychosocial narrative of risks and prevention” which helps explains the causes and what we can do to help with prevention.
Coronavirus disease 2019 has led to various unique challenges, such as isolation, loneliness, stigma, fear, economic fallout, which combined with biological risk factors (temperament, family history of suicide, pre-existing mental disorders and substance abuse) increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and primary psychiatric symptoms. This in turn combined with the interaction between stress and immunity related to infection can serve as a possible link to increased suicidality and suicidal behavior.
The increased incidence of psychosocial problems, exacerbation of pre-existing psychiatric disorders and fear of infection, uncertainty, isolation, unemployment, stress and mass panic have all contributed to one of the most concerning cause of mortality: suicides.
The risk factors of suicidality along with the impact of the pandemic have created a dual vulnerability.
Suicide itself is considered to be a pandemic. A large-scale outbreak like COVID-19 can easily overwhelm the available public health resources.
Suicide prevention as an integral part of mental health. Pandemics like COVID-19 will not inevitably lead to increase in suicides, but the myriad of socio-economic and psychological factors might lead to a sustained and chronic increase in risk. The ripple effect is suicide.
Hence with all the psychosocial and biological risk factors, stress and immune-mediated diathesis for COVID-19 can be hypothesized as a possible linking pathway for increase in suicidality during this pandemic.
There are few things we can do to help combat this dual susceptibility.
1.) Suicide prevention by early detection of risks is the main strategy.
It is but natural to be stressed during a pandemic, however the differentiation between the ‘acceptable limits’ of panic and ‘over the edge’ psychiatric symptoms that need professional help is vital.
Suicide is a sensitive topic and its portrayal in popular media can potentially influence reactions to it.
2.) Responsible reporting of suicide is necessary for mitigating stigma, falsification and prejudice towards this important aspect of mental health.
Trying to create more positivity and hope are also helpful in combatting this rise in such a preventable disease.
3.) Being together, optimism, mutual support, support systems and having an open dialogue with close members can all increase hope and positivity.
In short, global strategies, collaborative research and collective responsibility might hopefully enhance the efforts against the ‘dual pandemic’ of COVID-19 and suicide.
Not an easy task. But talking about it and discussing the research, like this article does, is the first step.
For more information and to read the entire article, click here.
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Sincerely,
The Door SwitchTM