PHILADELPHIA — Even before protesters across the country took to the streets in rage and grief over police brutality, #Americans were already facing unprecedented #stress, #isolation, #depression and fear brought on by the #COVID-19 #pandemic.
Earlier this month, as the country began to consider relaxing stay-at-home orders and reopening businesses, experts warned that the months of #isolation and unemployment prompted by the #coronavirus #pandemic may increase deaths of despair, a term for an alarming rise in early deaths among young and mid-life Americans, from #suicide, drug overdoses and alcoholism.
Such deaths have pushed down overall life expectancy in the United States by roughly three years, according to a 2019 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
And for American Americans, the #stress of experiencing and witnessing police brutality can also worsen #mentalhealth. In recent days, prominent medical organizations including the American Medical Association have decried police brutality and warned that racism is in itself a public health issue. A 2018 study found that police killings harm the #mentalhealth of #black people living in states where such violence occurs — and does not affect white people in the same way.
That pressure is now piling on top of the toll of an unprecedented #pandemic that had already upended life in the United States.
As the #pandemic spreads, health experts have become concerned about how #COVID-19 will affect risk factors for deaths of despair, including increased unemployment and social #isolation. Preliminary research from China has shown that people are experiencing higher rates of #anxiety, #depression and hazardous and harmful alcohol use due to #coronavirus-related #stress.
In a report released in May by Well Being Trust, a national foundation focused on #mentalwellness, and the Robert Graham Center, an independent research unit associated with the American Academy of Family Physicians, researchers predicted that additional deaths of despair over the next decade could range from just under 28,000 to over 154,000, depending on the speed of economic recovery.
All of this, researchers conclude, is driving a need for more and better #mentalhealth and substance abuse treatment.
In the United States, statisticians are warning that there will be sobering consequences if #COVID-19’s effect on behavioral health is inadequately addressed, especially as the country already has one of the highest #suicide rates among wealthy nations and substance abuse remains persistent. Though fatal overdoses decreased nationally in 2018, that drop was the first in decades. And in Philadelphia, after a drop in 2018, overdoses ticked back up in 2019.
Deaths of despair have been increasing since 2008, said Benjamin Miller, the chief strategy officer at Well Being Trust and an author of the report, which includes nine different scenarios to predict additional deaths of despair using a baseline number from 2018, projected unemployment rates from 2020 to 2029 and three recovery rate estimates.
In the report’s middle-of-the-road estimate, Philadelphia would see an additional 11.5 deaths per 100,000 residents over the next decade, and the suburban Pennsylvania counties would see an average increase of 6.65 additional deaths per 100,000 residents.
Across the river, in Camden County, deaths of despair were projected to increase by 12 per 100,000 residents; in Burlington County, by 8.2; and in Gloucester County, by 11.3.
“The premise was that deaths of despair don’t look like they’re going to get better, and #COVID is exacerbating all the worst things we know cause deaths of despair,” Miller said.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
“We’re quite concerned with what we’re learning from the field, what’s going on in communities that have been under stay-at-home orders,” said Elinore F. McCance-Katz, the Health and Human Services assistant secretary for #mentalhealth and substance use, who runs the federal Substance Abuse and #MentalHealthServicesAdministration. “Those are situations in which people have lost employment. They’ve lost their jobs, the structure to their lives. This puts them in a position where they have a lot of time on their hands, #stress, #anxiety, and boredom.”
Nationwide, she said, alcohol sales are up substantially, and, anecdotally, her agency has been hearing “more about overdose deaths and the use of other substances.”
Overdoses and unemployment have long been linked in years of research studies. A 2019 study out of the University of Pennsylvania found that manufacturing counties who lost auto plants — their economic anchors — saw a spike in opioid overdoses in the five years afterward.
Those findings, the study authors said at the time, are a window into how economic instability can drive a public health crisis.
The Well Being Trust report also cited research that links unemployment and #suicide risk. A 2014 study found that during the #GreatRecession between 2007 and 2009, a one point increase in unemployment rates correlated with a 1.6% increase in suicides.
“Economic factors like unemployment and financial strain are tied to #suicide risk, and we’re going through an unprecedented time,” she said. “We haven’t had a time where so many risk factors have coalesced together before.”
While it’s too early to tell what kind of effect the #pandemic will have on suicides, Nicole Brown, the chief operating officer at Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems in Exton, said that #behavioralhealthissues are getting more severe.
“We’re seeing greater cutting behaviors and more #suicideideation,” Brown said. “People are really struggling with the social #isolation component of this.”
Brown said there’s also been an uptick in referrals for those with substance abuse issues over the last two weeks.
“The longer people are isolated and quarantined at home, coupled with pre-existing #mentalhealth struggles, the more of a toll it’s going to take,” she said.
But Brown said that one silver lining of the #pandemic is the widespread shift to telehealth.
Before the #pandemic, she said between 70% and 75% of patients showed up for scheduled appointments. That has now increased to 80% to 90%, thanks to telehealth, which has prevented higher rates of hospitalizations, she said.
“We hope that anyone who sees this understands it’s a big issue,” Miller said. “These deaths do not have to occur if we invest the right amount of resources and attention into figuring out what’s causing deaths of despair.”
Green, of Penn, said that increased attention on #mentalhealth during the #pandemic has created an opportunity to strengthen #suicidepreventionresources. She said government officials should create ways to reduce financial strain for people during this time and increase funding to nonprofits offering #mentalhealthresources. And hospitals should implement #suicide-prevention practices like standardized screenings and #suicide-focused treatment, she said.
For individuals, she stressed the importance of checking in on family members and friends who might be struggling with #isolation and #stress.
“The benefits of connection and care can’t be understated,” she said. “Making an extra effort to reach out to someone you know is struggling can be life-saving.”
People in crisis can call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 800-273-TALK (-8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
