Covid and Suicide

• Substance abuse has increased during the pandemic, as US sales of alcohol increased by 55% in a week in March as compared to last year
• A general worsening of mental health symptoms in the global population as 35% of Chinese nationals and 45% of American adults self-reported a worsening of mental health statusSocial isolation influences mental wellbeing
• The US Dept of Veterans Affairs links loneliness with rates of veteran suicide
• This is also true with people isolated due to the current pandemic:
  • Hypochodriac-type suicide has increased suicide rates in isolated people who think they are infected with COVID even when these people were not infected