By Mark Ellis —
Physicians in California say they have seen more deaths from suicide than they’ve seen from Covid-19 during the health crisis.
“The numbers are unprecedented,” Dr. Michael deBoisblanc of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California, told ABC News.
Dr. deBoisblanc said he has seen a “year’s worth of suicides” in only four weeks between mid-April and mid-May.
The doctor said he believes it’s time for California officials to end the stay-at-home orders. “Personally, I think it’s time,” he said. “I think, originally, this was put in place to flatten the curve and to make sure hospitals have the resources to take care of COVID patients. We have the current resources to do that, and our other community health is suffering.”
At the end of March, more people died from suicide in a single Tennessee county than had died in the entire state directly from the coronavirus.
One study conducted by the Well Being Trust stated the government’s response to the health crisis including shut-downs and stay-at-home orders could lead to at least 75,000 “deaths of despair” from addiction, job-loss, fear, dread, and isolation.
Another study conducted by Just Facts analyzed scientific data and concluded that stress related to coronavirus lockdowns will destroy seven times as many years of human life than lockdowns can save.
On May 19th, 600 doctors signed their names on a letter to President Trump, referring to the lockdowns as a “mass casualty incident” and urging him to do what he can to ensure they come to an end.
As a result of the shutdowns, 150,000 Americans per month have not had a new cancer detected through routine screening, the doctors noted.
Millions have missed routine dental care to fix problems strongly linked to heart disease and death.
Preventable cases of stroke, heart attack, and child abuse have all increased, while “suicide hotline phone calls have increased 600%.”
“Liquor sales have increased 300-600%, cigarettes sales have increased, rent has gone unpaid, family relationships have become frayed, and millions of well-child check-ups have been missed,” the letter stated.
Kacey Hansen, a trauma center nurse in California for more than 30 years, says she’s worried about the increased suicide attempts. “What I have seen recently, I have never seen before,” Hansen said. “I have never seen so much intentional injury.”
