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1. I've tweeted before about the effects of the COVID pandemic on mental health, e.g. in the thread below. https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1255987758746570752
2. Some hard data just published in @CDCMMWR paint a disturbing picture. Rates of anxiety and depression are way up. Rates of suicidal ideation have more than doubled, with a quarter of 18-25 year olds considering suicide in the last 30 days.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/pdfs/mm6932a1-H.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/pdfs/mm6932a1-H.pdf
3. Suicidal ideation is always highest in that group, but this current rate is at least 2-3 times the norm.
We urgently need to figure out what the greatest drivers are (unemployment? lack of social interaction? disruption of family life?) and we need to act now to mitigate.
We urgently need to figure out what the greatest drivers are (unemployment? lack of social interaction? disruption of family life?) and we need to act now to mitigate.
4. Even moderate social distancing measures take a toll. It's not ok to act as if we are in a safe holding pattern until a vaccine comes. The vaccine may never come (though I'm optimistic that it will)—and even assume it does, it won't restore the world to 2019 overnight.
5. We're between rock and a hard place right now. Reopening schools and colleges will drive an explosion of cases. Keeping them them closed hurts children and young adults. It didn't have to be this way, and more importantly it doesn't have to stay this way.
6. I don't believe that another, but more intense lockdown (6-8 weeks, basically everything is closed) is feasible—and with on the order of a million active cases in the US, it wouldn't be as successful as it could have been in March and April.
7. What we can do is make the very most of testing technology. With rapid, inexpensive tests, (1) people could feel safer seeing friends and (2) we could take a big bite out of R.
Sure we should have had that all in place by now. But we don't. We need to go into overdrive.
Sure we should have had that all in place by now. But we don't. We need to go into overdrive.
8. Think about how much money the federal government is putting into vaccine development. A good vaccine (80% efficacy) taken by 60% of the population cuts R in half or so. So does a program of daily testing used by 60% of the population. We need comparable investment there.
9. That's the public health side of things.
Just a quick note about individual health. If you are struggling, you are not alone.
This pandemic has been enormously stressful for many, many people. Below are the population-wide numbers. Rates are much higher for young people.
Just a quick note about individual health. If you are struggling, you are not alone.
This pandemic has been enormously stressful for many, many people. Below are the population-wide numbers. Rates are much higher for young people.
10. Pandemic or not, there is never any more shame to suffering from a mood disorder or mental illness than there is from breaking your ankle or catching a cold.
And while it can and often does feel hopeless, mood disorders go into remission and treatment *does* work.
And while it can and often does feel hopeless, mood disorders go into remission and treatment *does* work.
11. If you are suffering, reach out.
Talk to your primary care physician, if you are fortunate enough to have one. They can help direct you to appropriate care.
Or call a mental health professional directly.
Reach out to friends and family.
Call a crisis line if necessary.
Talk to your primary care physician, if you are fortunate enough to have one. They can help direct you to appropriate care.
Or call a mental health professional directly.
Reach out to friends and family.
Call a crisis line if necessary.
12. We can get through this, as a community and as individuals. But damnit it feels hard sometimes, and there's nothing to be ashamed of for feeling that way.
Good luck. I'll be wishing all of you the very best.
Good luck. I'll be wishing all of you the very best.
