A quarter of young adults ages 18-24 have seriously contemplated suicide during the pandemic according to new statistics from the CDC. The physical distancing and isolation, have seriously affected our mental health. And that stat is not the only sobering statistic.
We need to get back to as normal a life as possible. And science has proven that mask-wearing diminishes the viral load. That means that if you get it, you get less of the virus resulting in a weaker disease that is less life-threatening. That saves lives and allows us to to connect more. They are hot and uncomfortable. But they save lives. I wear one for you. I wear one for me. I wear it because I am sick of the virus spikes and how it’s halting our lives. If we want to get back to as normal as possible before a vaccine comes out, then wear a mask. If we all do our part, we can have more fun.
Consider a donation to the JED Foundation, Active Minds, or The Trevor Project whose missions specifically support teen and young adult mental health and suicide prevention. They are all making supreme efforts in this pandemic.
USA Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call 988
USA Crisis Text 741-741
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for Veterans call 988, press 1
USA Crisis Line for LGBTQ Youth, call 1-866-488-7386
USA Crisis Text for LGBTQ Youth 678-678
USA TransLifeline call, 1-833-456-4566
USA Suicide Prevention Lifeline & Chat for the Deaf or Hearing impaired. Or dial 711 then 988
United Kingdom Samaritans 116 123
Australia Crisis Line 13 11 14
Canada Crisis Line 1-833-456-4566
Canada TransLifeline 877-330-6366
International suicide hotlines
“The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18–24 years (25.5%), minority racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic respondents [18.6%], non-Hispanic black [black] respondents [15.1%]), self-reported unpaid caregivers for adults (30.7%), and essential workers (21.7%).”
