Read on Twitter
Canadian Suicidology:
Summing BC and Alberta, 2020 has seen a 14.8% decrease in suicides from 2019 to 2020 (+/- 8.6%).
In Canada, there has been no "COVID effect" increasing suicide rates, in fact, our evidence thus far suggests a decrease.
Summing BC and Alberta, 2020 has seen a 14.8% decrease in suicides from 2019 to 2020 (+/- 8.6%).
In Canada, there has been no "COVID effect" increasing suicide rates, in fact, our evidence thus far suggests a decrease.
The Chicken Littles of the media will always be quick to proclaim that the sky is falling with respect to a new stressor and suicides, but @StanKutcher and I were right to call publically for all to "settle down" about the "tsunami of suicide" https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/05/02/what-do-we-really-know-about-suicide-risk-in-the-pandemic.html?rf
Huge thank you to @rachelmendleson who was one of the only reporters to speak with me at the time about my position of cautious optimism/"let the data tell us" approach. Pushing back against moral panics requires the media's assistance.
I know it may not be as salacious or click-y to give the message "rates are unlikely to change," but reporters, media in general, and scientists would do well to collaborate with actual experts in suicidology and mortality, not media "mental health experts" who promote fear.
