Will the suicide rate go up?

Grampa Don

Grampa Don

Yep, that's me
Location
Orange county, Calif.
This morbid thought occurred to me this morning. Some people have difficulty handling uncertainty. Many years ago, the company I worked for announced that there would be significant layoffs. One of the secretaries was so stressed about this that she quit. On the surface, this makes no sense. She lost any layoff benefits and might not even have been laid off. But, she couldn't handle the uncertainty.

My understanding is that the way this virus kills is by causing the lungs to fill with fluid and the patient suffocates. Not a pleasant way to go. Will some people who are already depressed or otherwise fragile for some reason decide not to wait? It's a sad thought. Is there anything that should be done to prevent this? Do we need a publicity campaign saying "Hang in there, you're going to be alright." I think something to boost morale would help right now. Is this our London blitz?

Don
 

old medic said:
How can you boost morale while inducing panic????
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so true....plus all these different preventions.....
not sure what we re all meant to do.....
Theres gonna be alot of unhappiness and anger now......
dread to think how this is going to transpire ....☹️
 
I don't know about "suicides", but if this epidemic continues to worsen, and cities begin to shut down, I can see a real possibility for civil unrest, and even crime to increase. If large numbers of people, with little in the way of savings, become financially stressed, they are going to take to the streets, and begin looting stores, etc. The entertainment and restaurant industries, for example, have virtually shut down for the next few weeks....and the bulk of those people are probably minimum wage earners, with little ability to withstand their loss of pay. Even if the government agrees to send everyone a "check", that will not last long for many people. Desperation could easily set in, and anything resembling Civil society could begin to quickly decline.
If these conditions continue to exist for more than another month, or two, the Spring/Summer of 2020 could be a real mess.
 
Don M. said:
I don't know about "suicides", but if this epidemic continues to worsen, and cities begin to shut down, I can see a real possibility for civil unrest, and even crime to increase. If large numbers of people, with little in the way of savings, become financially stressed, they are going to take to the streets, and begin looting stores, etc. The entertainment and restaurant industries, for example, have virtually shut down for the next few weeks....and the bulk of those people are probably minimum wage earners, with little ability to withstand their loss of pay. Even if the government agrees to send everyone a "check", that will not last long for many people. Desperation could easily set in, and anything resembling Civil society could begin to quickly decline.
If these conditions continue to exist for more than another month, or two, the Spring/Summer of 2020 could be a real mess.
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I's sorry to say that I foresee the same possibilities. We may have enforced curfews and martial law to keep the peace. Terrifying.
 
Retired guys like me will survive this Cornavirus even if it goes on all summer. However, I don't think the people working for minimum wages out there are going to make it. They have no backup in cash or otherwise. We could be heading for big trouble. Too bad our world leaders could not foresee what all those jets flying, ship cruising & way too much vacations would do to spread a disease. I wonder if there is a lesson here?
 
The whole atmosphere at the present time is one of negativity, not just regarding this new virus. All this anxiety and depression and talk of suicide. People these days seem unable to deal with the realities of life. When you consider what our predecessors coped with, most of us have it easy. Yet we do nothing but wallow in self-pity and winge about how difficult life is.
 
Don M. said:
I don't know about "suicides", but if this epidemic continues to worsen, and cities begin to shut down, I can see a real possibility for civil unrest, and even crime to increase. If large numbers of people, with little in the way of savings, become financially stressed, they are going to take to the streets, and begin looting stores, etc. The entertainment and restaurant industries, for example, have virtually shut down for the next few weeks....and the bulk of those people are probably minimum wage earners, with little ability to withstand their loss of pay. Even if the government agrees to send everyone a "check", that will not last long for many people. Desperation could easily set in, and anything resembling Civil society could begin to quickly decline.
If these conditions continue to exist for more than another month, or two, the Spring/Summer of 2020 could be a real mess.
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That might be the reason for the spike in firearms & ammunition sales.
 
Ah, geez. I gotta admit, I am not happy. I am not happy staying inside, not traveling, not being able to gather with friends. Rec center is closed so I can't even swim (my Zen happy place). I'm having trouble because I can't see why getting food and cleaning supplies is all of a sudden so freaking hard. Yeah, I know why. Because people are stupid and greedy and looking out for number one. But there was plenty of food before, so there should be plenty now, if only people would show a little common sense and human charity and only buy what they need for a week. As if. People are preparing for the apocalypse. How long can this last? Shoot me now.
 
Packerjohn said:
Retired guys like me will survive this Cornavirus even if it goes on all summer. However, I don't think the people working for minimum wages out there are going to make it. They have no backup in cash or otherwise. We could be heading for big trouble. Too bad our world leaders could not foresee what all those jets flying, ship cruising & way too much vacations would do to spread a disease. I wonder if there is a lesson here?
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Seriously? You think world leaders should be trying to control the way people live their lives? I like my freedom, thanks.
 
CarolfromTX said:
Ah, geez. I gotta admit, I am not happy. I am not happy staying inside, not traveling, not being able to gather with friends. Rec center is closed so I can't even swim (my Zen happy place). I'm having trouble because I can't see why getting food and cleaning supplies is all of a sudden so freaking hard. Yeah, I know why. Because people are stupid and greedy and looking out for number one. But there was plenty of food before, so there should be plenty now, if only people would show a little common sense and human charity and only buy what they need for a week. As if. People are preparing for the apocalypse. How long can this last? Shoot me now.
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In times of uncertainty you can depend upon your fellow man...
to make things worse.

I can't afford to buy the amount of supplies other people are buying. I have to live on a budget or I am sunk. Neither do I want to buy too much and have to throw it away later. I am alone so don't need a lot to survive. Remain strong. We will endure. This too shall pass. Turn off the news. Those jerks are winding everyone up.
 
Don, I hope you are wrong, but you may be right.

I lived on 2nd and Forest in Detroit in '67 during the riot, while finishing a degree. Most people left the city, but I couldn't, so a few of us gathered in a single room for security (strength in numbers) and watch t.v. None of us had a weapon, and our apt building was raided by the Nat. Guard looking for a sniper. (they found none)

There were tanks going up and down the streets, and Pres. Johnson had some low-flying fighter jets to disperse the crowds. I watched as a grocery store across the street was broken into by mobs and people stole grocery carts full of food and ran down the street with them. I had VA tags on my car and was stopped a few times by police who asked for identification.

If it comes down to mobs in the street again, I'm just glad I live next door to a highly trained state trooper.
 
Grampa Don said:
Will some people who are already depressed or otherwise fragile for some reason decide not to wait?
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Sure to. Between undergrad and grad school, I worked a short stint at a University Medical Center 's Poison Control hotline. That was pre-internet, but we had a huge computer database of drugs and every poison known to man along with the medical protocols for ingestion and overdose. The public and medical professionals throughout the state used us. Even during the winter when the weather was rainy and overcast for weeks, our suicide attempt calls from ERs would spike. Also around Christmas. So, yes, certainly expect increased attempts due to Covid19 instability.

Not to mention if we face prescription shortages for awhile due to the manufacturing lag when China was on lockdown. Shudder to think when our waaaaaay over prescribed psych med population misses a few doses.

I don't think any sort of campaign could stop unstable people from suicide as wonky as our world is right now.
 
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Don M. said:
I don't know about "suicides", but if this epidemic continues to worsen, and cities begin to shut down, I can see a real possibility for civil unrest, and even crime to increase. If large numbers of people, with little in the way of savings, become financially stressed, they are going to take to the streets, and begin looting stores, etc. The entertainment and restaurant industries, for example, have virtually shut down for the next few weeks....and the bulk of those people are probably minimum wage earners, with little ability to withstand their loss of pay. Even if the government agrees to send everyone a "check", that will not last long for many people. Desperation could easily set in, and anything resembling Civil society could begin to quickly decline.
If these conditions continue to exist for more than another month, or two, the Spring/Summer of 2020 could be a real mess.
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Packerjohn said:
Americans are standing in line to buy guns & ammo.
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I bought an additional 5,000 rounds six weeks ago. Rural people are easy targets in times of instability. Already takes a sheriff deputy 20 mins best case scenario if we need them, so if there's trouble in town, we can't count on anyone coming. Part of the reason I bought so much is that it was on sale and if things go squirrelly, we're going to do a lot of target practice as a deterrent. In a small community, word about which people are honing gun skills will get out. I had MUCH rather people avoid us than actually have to shoot someone.
 
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Really? You think you will shoot people? Will you shoot the children first to spare them from starving or the parents and let the children starve so you don’t waste a bullet. What makes your life so important? Shame to even think such thoughts.
 
Aneeda72 said:
Really? You think you will shoot people? Will you shoot the children first to spare them from starving or the parents and let the children starve so you don’t waste a bullet. What makes your life so important? Shame to even think such thoughts.
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If that was directed at me, please re-read post #20. I don't think you comprehended what I posted at all. Target shooting is a deterrent. But to answer your question, in a home invasion, the people you shoot are the ones coming to shoot you. You target shoot ...a lot... as a deterrent so those folks pass your place by.
 
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win231 said:
That might be the reason for the spike in firearms & ammunition sales.
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You got it. I had to renew my carry permit, so I went into the Sheriff’s office on Tuesday and a Deputy and I began a conversation. Eventually, it got around to me asking if many carry permits were being renewed and he told me yes and also many new registrations.
 
AnnieA said:
If that was directed at me, please re-read post #20. I don't think you comprehended what I posted at all. Target shooting is a deterrent. But to answer your question, in civil unrest, the people you shoot are the ones coming to shoot you. You target shoot ...a lot... as a deterrent so those folks pass your place by.
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Not directed towards anyone-just a general statement in reaction to even the thought of shooting someone whether they are coming for me or not. If they come for me or my stuff, they can have it. I own poodles, not a German Shepard. My watch dogs will open the door and show you to the good stuff.
 

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