Knox County, Tennessee saw nine deaths by suicide within 48 hours this week as doomsday predictions over the novel Wuhan coronavirus panics an already anxious public and leaves millions unemployed and isolated.

In Tennessee, the crisis is taking its toll on those who were not physically sick but who appear to have fallen victim to the virus anyway. As of this writing, more people have died from suicide in Knox County than people have from the virus in the entire state, where there have been 6 fatalities from the disease, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

“That number is completely shocking and makes me wonder if what we are doing now is really the best approach,” said Knoxville, Tennessee Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “We have to determine how we can respond to COVID-19 in a way that keeps our economy intact, keeps people employed and empowers them with a feeling of hope and optimism – not desperation and despair.”

via The Federalist More People Died From Suicide Than Coronavirus In Tennessee This Week

A local police officer used to respond to an average of 1 to 2 suicides per week. That has changed now to 7 to 10 suicides per week. He said that these suicides are primarily about financial problems which are overwhelming people.

Unemployment

Not being able to get any other job

Forced to self isolate

Forced to get even deeper into debt to ‘make it’

Not seeing any way out

[…]

via More People Died From Suicide Than Coronavirus In Tennessee This Week