Depression, Isolation, and Suicide
This month, I’d like to make you aware of something important that I have been seeing with increasing frequency—a marked increase in depression, isolation, and suicidal thoughts. There is still a severe mental health crisis and people are finding it difficult to adapt to life after the pandemic.
For those children and teens who are naturally shy or introverted, or for those who are bullied in school, learning from the “safety” of their homes during the pandemic might have felt almost comforting. But we humans are social beings. We can’t live isolated from others for long stretches of time without there being negative mental or physical effects. Now that schools and offices have reopened and people are expected to be back to “normal”, those introverted kids in particular have had a more challenging time readjusting. Schools, by their very nature, appeal to extroverted children: playing games on the playground, participating in class, competing in sports, performing in band or choir, and even finding a seat in the cafeteria at lunchtime are all things extroverted children have an easier time doing. Nationwide, children and adolescents who are back in school are showing signs of stress from the trauma they have experienced during the pandemic.
A new study by the National Institutes of Health reveals that on top of isolation and family volatility, more than 140,000 children in the United States lost a family member or caregiver, with children of color suffering disproportionally. So, to expect them to go back to school, act normal, and hide their fears and anxieties is simply too much to ask. The grief, depression, and anxiety younger children have felt during the pandemic is now manifesting in crying fits and disruptive behavior and an increase in violence and bullying among teens.
Increase in suicide attempts
According to the CDC, incidents of suspected suicide attempts during the pandemic rose 31%. Emergency departments throughout the country saw suspected suicide attempts soar 51% among girls aged 12-17 a year later.
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is currently the number one suicide location in the world. The average age of Golden Gate Bridge jumpers is under 40, and more than 10 percent are in their teens. This method of suicide versus shooting oneself has two similarities: it’s highly lethal once the attempt has begun (the person jumps or pulls the trigger), and it cannot be stopped. Although engineers are constructing anti-suicide nets attached to the bridge to prevent those lethal falls, they won’t be operational until 2023.
The sad truth is that in the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and teens. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that young adults who experienced cyberbullying were 4 times as likely to attempt suicide than those who weren’t bullied. Suicide by drugs overdose has risen among 15- to 24-year-olds. The incidents of suicide, alcohol-related death, and drug overdose are on the rise in the United States. Collectively, they are known as “deaths of despair” and are driven by isolation.
Be patient
I have heard from some patients that they have had to wait to see a therapist. Given this marked increase in depression, isolation, and suicidal thoughts there is a huge growth in people seeking therapy. Community mental health clinics do fill this demand but today are overwhelmed with calls and the wait time can be months for an initial consultation. Be patient and keep reaching out to therapists. Ask to get on a waitlist. Your persistence will pay off.
There is hope
Resources are available. I was so moved and inspired when I recently heard a young woman in high school speak at a suicide prevention march who had a suicide plan and called a suicide prevention line. She said that the person who answered her call saved her life!
If you think you might be showing signs of depression, you can follow this link from Mental Health America for free and take a quick and easy mental health test to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
Feelings of depression, isolation, and suicide are very real, but they are also not uncommon, and they are treatable. The good news is that recovery is possible.
If you are having a hard time adjusting after the pandemic and your negative thoughts and behaviors are impacting your everyday life, please reach out to us. At Wallace Family Therapy, we are trained to provide the most effective treatment that meets your specific needs and challenges. We’re here to help you.
