May 20, 2020 “An additional 75,000 Americans could die by suicide, drugs, or alcohol abuse because of the COVID-19 pandemic, projections from a new national report released today suggest.”
‘”If nothing happens and nothing improves ― ie, the worst-case scenario ― we could be looking at an additional 150,000 people who died who didn’t have to,’ Benjamin Miller, PsyD, WBT chief strategy officer, told Medscape Medical News.”
It’s time to keep an eye on your teens, neighbors, and friends. Even with the change of administrations and the hope of things improving, you may know someone under a lot of stress. Your usually upbeat friend who is now negative in his/her outlook may be showing signs of depression. Minor inconveniences could send someone into a tizzy. Blaming themselves for their job dismissal or not finding a new job could be a sign. The lack of personal contact or favorite activities during the COVID-19 may be causing individuals to sink into a bad state of mind.
It is hard to think that someone would choose to be more isolated under the COVID-10 times. But if a friend refuses to show an interest in being in touch or being involved in safe activities, keep trying. Encourage them.
Anxiety about returning to work, school, or routine activities could quickly occur. Many students are refusing to appear in the classroom online. It would be natural for those students to face anxiety to now try to catch up from the time they have missed.
Look for items that seem out of place. From my book in progress, Becoming Street Smart, I have learned that the clamp to a garden house is perfect for scraping pills that make them easily snorted. One father found a screw on the floor of his son’s room. He looked up to see the young man’s supply of pills in the cold air register.
You could save a life.
US ‘Deaths of Despair’ From COVID-19 Could Top 75,000
Brooks
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/930183