COVID Effects: Depression, Suicide, Child/Domestic Violence
For the past several months, governments across the globe have forced businesses to close, and imposed a number of other state lockdown procedures, in a faulty attempt to stop the worldwide pandemic from spreading. They told us that staying home will keep us protected and safe.
But there are other things far sinister and more destructive than what any virus is capable of, and they are waiting for their victims at home behind closed doors. Let’s talk about COVID Effects. In case you missed this post The Best Ways To Help The Elderly
Covid Effects
For millions of Americans, being confined to stay-at-home orders is putting them directly in harm’s way. That’s because their homes are not always a safe place to be, let alone being cooped up in them for weeks at a time. These victims are then left with an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and a sense of being utterly trapped.
The pandemic has led to a rise in depression, suicide, and child domestic violence that most of us aren’t hearing about. Here’s more on the negative effects of COVID stay at home orders.
Numbers are on the Rise
Many of us forget that depression, suicide, and child domestic violence were all pandemics that were here with us long before COVID-19 revealed its ugly head. The numbers and statistics are far uglier than what COVID proved to be and have only worsened ever since we were forced to stay in our homes. So what’s causing all this turmoil and destructive behavior?
Growing Anxiety
One obvious answer is that everyone is under a lot more pressure and experiencing more anxiety than what we’ve ever dealt with before. Many Americans have been left without work, causing financial stress in the home.
Fear has gripped this nation as we continue to watch the corona cases rise, along with the number of fatalities.
During these uncertain times, many people also went out and purchased guns, or have taken up drinking, while others turned to drugs as a coping mechanism.
Being Confined with an Abuser
Being shut in at home has certainly taken its toll on everyone. Even for those living in a healthy family environment, being forced into our home with family members for long periods of time can cause a lot of chaos.
But with children and women being confined to a home with a sexual predator or an abuser on top of all that surmounting stress, can lead to an extremely dangerous situation. Even more so when those coping mechanisms come into play.
Many victims have been threatened that they would be thrown out into the streets where they will catch the virus, while for others, COVID-19 is being used as an excuse by their abuser for why they are continually being isolated, long after the stay-at-home orders have been lifted.
Children were left without daycare, schools, and other care providers that gave them a safe haven throughout the day, and a break for mom and dad.
Mental Health Has Worsened
For obvious reasons, mental health has only gotten worse as of late. It’s as if many people have crawled into a dark hole that they can’t seem to get back out of. Experts have noticed that depression and suicide rates have steadily begun to grow as well.
Even President Trump and the White House have mentioned this in recent weeks. It’s been proven that the stay at home order is not healthy for us mentally. That’s because individuals feel alone and isolated from friends and family due to social distancing, and with little hope for the future.
Victims Left with Nowhere to Turn
Victims of depression, suicide, and child domestic violence are also now left with little to no resources for ways of getting help and being heard. Food banks, shelters, legal aid offices, health care facilities, and rape crisis centers were left shut down at one point, and are even still, currently understaffed and completely overwhelmed.
This is especially the case in larger cities and highly-populated areas.
Not only are these facilities overrun, but police agencies are halting arrests, along with releasing dangerous inmates back to their families due to the spreading of COVID-19 in the jail systems. All of this will continue to contribute to the rise in violence and the collapse of our social infrastructure as we know it.
Getting Help
If you or someone you know is a victim of depression or thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 so you can get the help you deserve. No one should be left to feel this way and should not be overlooked.
For victims of child/domestic abuse, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224. Here are a few other resources for you to look into.
Other Posts to Check Out
It’s always important to be informed. Here are some other posts related to the coronavirus that you may want to check out:
- Coronavirus and Climate Change
- What is the Covid Vaccine?
- What is the Difference Between COVID and the Flu
Final Word
The COVID-19 pandemic has left victims of depression, suicide, and domestic violence alienated and marginalized because they aren’t able to find the help and support that they desperately need. With this growing concern, a new approach needs to take place in our justice and social systems to help curb these pandemics that are taking place behind closed doors.
You can also help to spread the word and awareness by talking with friends and family about it. What COVID effects have you discovered during all of this? Please stay safe, stay well, and wash your hands. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: COVID Pandemic Deposit photos_360151110_s-2019
I saw you had no comments so far, but this is a timely and important subject and you made me start thinking again even if it’s not about prepping, so here I go 🙂
This confinement and isolation is being presented to us, the people, as necessary for our own good, yet if you notice, several politicians and many celebrities have either ignored these mandates and the advice of medical professional or they have managed to travel under the excuse of travel being required for their occupation. And many, mostly the elites, just feel entitled to do as they please and ignore everything while often pointing fingers at the everyday man and woman and talking about one’s duty to comply and cooperate. Or I should say what all of us regular people should do. They preach, but only we practice.
While this double standard angers many of us, their actions prove that human beings can’t be locked up and not allowed to be outside, to enjoy the company of others or to enjoy a different view or setting. We are by nature gregarious or if you prefer, gregarious by nature and we thrive on the companionship of friends and relatives and emotionally desire to socialize with other people. Yet many of us are following orders and not even attending funerals, holding off weddings or reducing Birthdays to a sort of drive by celebration or we socialize via computer screens. I feel this is probably hardest on the kids although I am hopeful that those families that make the effort demonstrate to the children that all is not lost, that people still care and will show it, by executing such gestures.
But it presents a challenge and we have had to sacrifice in so many ways. And some of us have not had much socialization or the camaraderie (North American spelling is comradery) of others. Particularly sad is how many elderly people are isolated in retirement homes or even kept at home by fearful family trying to keep them safe. We want people to be safe, but there are ways to stay in touch without getting close and I feel that has been ignored or overlooked despite the constant sounding off of the buzz words “social distancing”. We can always stand or sit farther apart, talk on phones, radios, or use a computer. At least people can see and hear each other and feed that need for contact and to know that others are safe, healthy and doing well.
I think some people have taken an extreme stance out of fear, even if that fear is unmitigated or a little extreme. Others chose one viewpoint over the other such as the wearing of masks which has been proven to be a confusing issue as the positions of different agencies contradict each other or they change week by week and there was a rather slow dissemination of the information and facts regarding gloves, masks, sanitary safety protocols, the ability of the virus to survive on surfaces, under carious climatic conditions and so on. And there are those who advocate futility in taking all suggested precautions except for handwashing, but I’m not sure how many are really washing and sanitizing as often as required or properly. Even diet could be an issue, but we don’t know or have answers to all the questions thus we have to try our best to do what is most helpful to save lives.
I do think that pushy, tough guy, totalitarian ruling politicians and doomsday speeches from the medical professionals along with their contradicting each other is most harmful and creates more stress and confusion, and even resentment. What’s the point of living if we live in constant fear and isolation from the people in our lives.
WOW, Frank, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this comment. You feel exactly the same way as I do. I feel isolated and it’s not healthy. I’m glad I have my blog to keep me going. I can “talk” to others through my website. The news does not report suicides unless a family talks about it on Facebook or whatever. Utah has one of the highest rates of drug overdoses and suicides in the nation. Plus, the highest number of people on prescription drugs in the US for anxiety and depression. It makes me sad, I hope people reach out to others during this pandemic. May God bless us all. Thanks for the awesome comment, my good friend, Linda
Well said, Frank. Thank you for saying what I am thinking as well. I pray more people will wake up and stand up for their rights. God bless you.
Hi Deborah, I agree!! Thank you, Linda
Thank you for this infromation. Another area we are dealing with in WA and OR are the riots at night and the fact the police have their hands tied by the politicians. This only adds to the mental problems many face. From material I have read from those that work in the Justice Center (in Portland), the news is not giving the facts to the public. Too often the news adds to the problem. Having the right places to turn for help including our churches is very important right now!
Hi Cheryl, I totally agree. I wrote this because my gut has been telling me people are suffering even more now. Isolation is not helping. I realize we have a lot of mental health issues but this pandemic is making it worse. I pray something will change soon. Linda
Most abuse was already in place. It only got worse because of the confinement, boredom and alcohol consumption.
Mental health hasn’t been good for a long time. The current situation has only gotten it to show truer colors. It will worsen greatly between now and the end of the year. Expect deadly attacks based on mask/no mask, politics and career choices.
Hi Matt, I totally agree. I have seen the attitudes of people that have shocked me. I guess it’s a way of showing people NOW that things are going to get even uglier. Linda
Hi Matt, I agree. Linda
I’d like to add that these are the reasons you vet members of any group. You do not want to have to come together and find out someone is an abuser, molester or a monster.
This includes family members. If they ain’t right they ain’t right. Get that worked out NOW not when IT happens.
In a serious situation you need solid people around you.
Hi Matt, you nailed it again! Now, if I can convince my husband we need to find the “right” group of people. Linda
This includes neighbors. I hear the preaching of “community” however most of us know little about our neighbors anymore because of the way we live. I’m not a big people person myself but I know a lot about the folks around us.
Hi Matt, I agree. I worry about my “community”. Linda
Linda, on a side note, could you please repost your zucchini pizza reacipe? I sisn’t get to copy it the last time I saw it and haven’t seen it since.
Thank you!
Hi Cheryl, wow, I need to update that post!! LOL! You are so nice to ask for it! https://www.foodstoragemoms.com/skinny-zucchini-pizza-crust/ Thank you, Linda
Thank you!!!!!!
HI Cheryl, I need to do new pictures. I better make some ASAP! Linda