It was with extreme sadness today that I read about the death of German finance minister Thomas Schaefer in response to the extreme situation in which we find ourselves with the COVID19 pandemic.

I don’t believe that this is the first suicide which has occurred as a result of these extreme stressors, nor do I believe that it will be the last.

The financial anxiety and depression which results from country wide lockdowns, self-isolation and a sense of “being trapped” at home either alone or with family/ roommates is extreme and very often may lead to a feeling of complete desolation in which there seems to be no way out.

I would like to take this opportunity to stress 2 important points and to dispel some common misconceptions:

1. Suicide is not “the easy way out.”  It is not a sign of mental weakness – in fact quite the opposite, it takes significant willpower to carry out a suicide plan. It is not a failing. It does not only happen to people who are depressed and talking about it does not increase the likelihood that a person will commit suicide. It is NOT the only way out!
2. The current circumstances in which we find ourselves are as uniquely dangerous as they are promising. Financial stress coupled with lack of surety about the future, added to the fear of contracting COVID19 and having to therefore face our own mortality pose a potentially lethal combination of factors which may lead to people seeing suicide as the only way out. This, however, also has the ability to bring us closer together. To work as a family unit and a society so that we can bounce back stronger and more resilient than before.

This is an extremely stressful time, particularly for those who have financial/ job insecurity, are working on the frontlines or were in an untenable situation to begin with.

Please don’t view death as the only way out, there are multiple counsellors, psychiatrists and psychologists who are ready to assist in any way they can.

#Here-to-Help

#MentalHealth

Dr C