We’ve all now been living with Coronavirus pandemic for 8 months and, in so many ways, it’s getting old. COVID-fatigue is setting in and we’d love to have our lives back. Folks are tired of wearing masks and social distancing, we’re tired of washing our hands and using sanitizer, and we really would love to go to a restaurant or a sporting event with friends. I’ve had it with COVID. You too?
Unfortunately, there’s a problem. Getting careless can put you, your family, and your friends at risk. We’re now entering the second wave of the pandemic and things could get worse. If the 1918 pandemic is any guide (and there’s no reason to think it’s not), the next several months could be deadly. Fortunately, there are things we all can do. The solution is simple—Double-down on approaches that work. Wear a mask, wash your hands, use sanitizers, keep 6’ apart, and limit activities in public and with groups. If we do these things, and we encourage our children and friends to do the same, we’ll be all right. They’re small things, but we’ll each be doing something to bend the curve of the pandemic. Diligence, patience, and a sense of hope are key.
There is, unfortunately, a second way in which this could get worse. For decades we have known there are associations between economic recessions and suicide rates. From the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997-1998, to the economic downturn of 2008, each period has been followed by an increase in suicide, particularly amongst men and young adults.
Social isolation puts individuals at risk
In a 2013 study conducted by Shu-Sen Chang and colleagues, they found that suicide rates in 54 countries were significantly correlated with levels of unemployment during the 2008 economic crisis. This is not surprising. Economic recessions can put enormous pressure on families, particularly those with few resources to fall back on. For many, these are difficult times. Lockdowns due to the pandemic and a global economic slump can trigger feelings of stress, hopelessness, and helplessness. At the same time, we are witnessing untold levels of social isolation as we struggle to contain the virus. Since the early 1900’s we’ve known that social alienation and isolation puts individuals at risk for suicide. More recently we’re found that feelings of hopelessness and helplessness—seeing our problems as unendurable and unsolvable—also can put us at risk. COVID-19 has created a miasmal fog of economic pressure, stress, uncertainty, hopelessness, and social isolation. Again, if history is any guide, we may witness an increase in suicide rates over the next several months. Data at community levels suggests this may now be occurring. This is unsettling, to say the least.
Maintain a sense of hope and a positive vision
Fortunately, there’s much that can be done. This outcome is not inevitable. Just as washing hands, wearing masks, and social distancing can prevent the transmission of Coronavirus, there are things each of us can do to reduce the risk of depression and suicide. At the top of the list, governments (local, state, and national) should acknowledge this possible scenario and create an actionable plan that we can all rally behind. Increasing the availability of unemployment insurance and interventions to limit lay-offs and furloughs can, and do, have a positive effect. Along the same lines, we can take steps to limit access to lethal means (guns, poison, etc.), control sales of narcotic medications, and restrict access to high-risk locations (such as bridges or train tracks) as much as possible without causing disruptions. Maintaining a sense of hope and a positive vision—We will get through this pandemic (they do end), the economy will reopen and recover, we and our families will emerge and remake our lives, we are resilient—is central.
Perhaps the most important preventative steps, however, begin at home. Reach out to friends and neighbors who have lost their job or who are living alone. Talk to your children, teens, and elderly relatives about how they are feeling, how they are holding up. Listen and let them give voice to their concerns. Be on guard for signs of depression or feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Listen for thoughts that they see the situation as unendurable or that they feel they’ve become a burden. Watch for signs of social isolation or increased alcohol or drug use. Listen to them and take their concerns seriously. Don’t dismiss negative thoughts and feelings as unimportant or passing. As best one can offer support to your family and to people that are close to you. If you have concerns, take them seriously. Trust your judgment. If someone is having thoughts of death or suicide, encourage them to seek out and accept help.
How can I help my family?
With teenagers, work to maintain a stable, supportive, and secure home environment. Encourage them to share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Encourage them each day to engage in activities that are enjoyable and give them a sense of accomplishment. Encourage them to connect with friends (either online or in a safe manner). As we’ve all seen, the pandemic has had an enormous effect on the lives of children and teens. From school closings to cancellation of sports and school activities, to the closing of malls, the cadence of their lives has been upset. So many of the things they’d come to expect, from high school dances to graduation ceremonies, have been canceled or postponed. It’s disappointing, discouraging, and disheartening. For children and teens, like adults, COVID is getting old. As with adults, we’ll want to listen, offer support, help them to maintain a sense of hope. If they are experiencing thoughts of death or suicide, take them seriously.
Conclusion
Although no single approach has been found to prevent depression and suicide, a combination of efforts can be very effective. Let’s do it! I began by noting that things could get worse. I’d like to conclude, though, on a more positive note. The take-home is that we’re resilient. For all of the challenges the pandemic presents, for all of the uncertainty about the future, there are things each of us can do to influence the outcome. While we await a vaccine, there are things each we can do to limit the spread of the virus. While we await the end of social isolation and economic recovery, we can reduce the emotional toll of the virus. A term used in psychology is “self-efficacy”, the belief that we “have the ability to produce a desired or intended result.” Individually and collectively, we have it, we have efficacy. We can influence the outcome. To be sure, these are tough times. There are, though, simple steps each of us can take to move ahead successfully. Onward!