Despite the sharp rise of mental health issues and many other risk factors during the onset of COVID-19, the number of suicides in the United States decreased in 2020. Not only that but the most significant drop (14%) happened in April of 2020 when most of the country was in lockdown.
In an effort to understand this phenomenon, I invited two American leading suicide prevention experts: clinical psychologist John Sommers-Flanagan and the clinical social worker Stacey Freedenthal. Both of them are authors in the field of Suicidology and have been working with suicidal patients for decades. They are also professors: John teaches at the University of Montana and Stacey, at the University of Denver.
- What can possibly explain these puzzling numbers?
- Is this really surprising or does it follow a trend that had already started in 2019?
- What’s hidden behind the US statistics?
These and many other questions are discussed in this episode.
If you want to support my work, buy me a coffee. This will help me keep bringing hope to those touched by suicide: https://bit.ly/3whorPH
Find John Flanagan:
https://johnsommersflanagan.com/
His “dancing" video:
Find Stacey Freedenthal:
Watch this discussion on my YouTube Channel "Understand Suicide:"
Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n
Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com
Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:”
Read my blog on Psychology Today:
Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet
If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Phone: 800-273-8255