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[TW -Suicide]
The ONS has published data on suicide rates in England
Counterintuitively, given how hard 2020 was all round, stats reveal a significant *reduction* in suicide rates in the latter half of last year
https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/quarterlysuicidedeathregistrationsinengland2001to2019registrationsandquarter1jantomartoquarter4octtodec2020provisionaldata
But there's much more at work here
/1
The ONS has published data on suicide rates in England
Counterintuitively, given how hard 2020 was all round, stats reveal a significant *reduction* in suicide rates in the latter half of last year
https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/quarterlysuicidedeathregistrationsinengland2001to2019registrationsandquarter1jantomartoquarter4octtodec2020provisionaldata
But there's much more at work here
/1
I fear that some may take this simple fact, i.e. suicide rates were lower in 2020 than previous years, and jump to unfounded conclusions
Lockdown/the pandemic wasn't so bad
The 'community spirit' helped people
Mental health consequences weren't as bad as many said etc.
/2
Lockdown/the pandemic wasn't so bad
The 'community spirit' helped people
Mental health consequences weren't as bad as many said etc.
/2
In truth, there are much simpler, albeit far less optimistic, explanations. The main one is highlighted by the ONS themselves
Basically, it took a lot longer to register a suicide as such in the latter half of last year
Coroners were overwhelmed
Because of the pandemic
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Basically, it took a lot longer to register a suicide as such in the latter half of last year
Coroners were overwhelmed
Because of the pandemic
/3
The fact that there were fewer official suicides last year is sort of like how you get fewer ambulances being called out for heart attacks during an earthquake; it's not that the former isn't happening, it that the latter is taking up all the resources to deal with it
/4
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There are other potential explanations too, of course
Maybe the lockdown/pandemic *did* have a beneficial effect. I've heard reports of those with long term depression/anxiety feeling reassured by it, as it felt like their moods and fears were 'validated'
/5
Maybe the lockdown/pandemic *did* have a beneficial effect. I've heard reports of those with long term depression/anxiety feeling reassured by it, as it felt like their moods and fears were 'validated'
/5
Or maybe the community spirit stuff *did* help some people. When everyone's in the same boat and reduced to communicating online, maybe that helped some people reach out more, bringing them back from the edge
Can't know this for sure, but it's feasible, at least
/6
Can't know this for sure, but it's feasible, at least
/6
On the other hand, maybe the lockdown and restrictions just made suicide more challenging. When everyone's keeping an eye on everyone else and you can go to fewer places and buy fewer things, it must limit your options somewhat.
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This is all just speculation, in fairness
But here's the reason for this thread; you just *know* there's some cynical journo somewhere who'll see this data about reduced suicide rates last year, take it at face value, and spin it into some optimistic pro-government story
/8
But here's the reason for this thread; you just *know* there's some cynical journo somewhere who'll see this data about reduced suicide rates last year, take it at face value, and spin it into some optimistic pro-government story
/8
"Suicide reduction show lockdown wasn't so bad"
"Country more optimistic than ever, Boris is doing a great job"
"Mental health concerns about lockdown are overblown"
And so on
All of this is utterly wrong. But since when has that stopped anyone?
/9
"Country more optimistic than ever, Boris is doing a great job"
"Mental health concerns about lockdown are overblown"
And so on
All of this is utterly wrong. But since when has that stopped anyone?
/9
Truth is, suicide numbers dropped last year, and it's likely because the system responsible for recognising them was compromised by the pandemic.
Spinning this in a way that reflects *positively* on a govt. which has slashed said system to ribbons would be... well, vile.
/10
Spinning this in a way that reflects *positively* on a govt. which has slashed said system to ribbons would be... well, vile.
/10
But such things happen all the time nowadays. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if it comes to pass.
Figured this thread may help some people see reality, that #mentalhealth and suicide are still big problems in the pandemic, before victims are exploited to argue otherwise
/end
Figured this thread may help some people see reality, that #mentalhealth and suicide are still big problems in the pandemic, before victims are exploited to argue otherwise
/end
