🍁Suicidology Update 🍁
🍁Suicide in Canada during the Pandemic 🍁
Quite simply, suicide rates in Canada have sharply decreased since the onset of the pandemic. It is a profound effect, with changes we haven't seen going back 25 years.
#canpoli #bcpoli #onpoli #abpoli
/1
🍁Suicide in Canada during the Pandemic 🍁
Quite simply, suicide rates in Canada have sharply decreased since the onset of the pandemic. It is a profound effect, with changes we haven't seen going back 25 years.
#canpoli #bcpoli #onpoli #abpoli
/1
Frequently asked questions:
"Is this caused by people dying of covid?"
No, and we can test this by age stratification. If COVID was responsible for the decrease, we would see an over-representation of decrease in older groups, and the decrease is consistent in all age groups.
"Is this caused by people dying of covid?"
No, and we can test this by age stratification. If COVID was responsible for the decrease, we would see an over-representation of decrease in older groups, and the decrease is consistent in all age groups.
/2
"But Overdoses have increased"
Yes. But, not why suicide rates decreased. Similar age reasons (overdoses peak at middle age), as well the reporting delay is specifically due to coroner's investigations. Most ODs accidental. Suicides obviously not. At best a minimal effect.
/3
Yes. But, not why suicide rates decreased. Similar age reasons (overdoses peak at middle age), as well the reporting delay is specifically due to coroner's investigations. Most ODs accidental. Suicides obviously not. At best a minimal effect.
/3
"Will there be a delayed effect"
I commonly hear this, but that's not how suicide works. As is evident, changes in rates happen quickly (see the seasosnality of the graph!). We do not see "delayed" effects for other things like contagion, economic depressions, etc.
/4
I commonly hear this, but that's not how suicide works. As is evident, changes in rates happen quickly (see the seasosnality of the graph!). We do not see "delayed" effects for other things like contagion, economic depressions, etc.
/4
"Will they increase in the future?"
Very likely. suicide rates in Canada have gone up and down (overall quite static) for the past 20 years. lower rates in 2020 and 2021 means that even previously normal rates would be a 25% increase!
/5
Very likely. suicide rates in Canada have gone up and down (overall quite static) for the past 20 years. lower rates in 2020 and 2021 means that even previously normal rates would be a 25% increase!
/5
"So you're saying nobody suffered during the pandemic?"
Absolutely not. Suicide and mental health have a connection but they are not equivalent. Suicide is multifactorial and economic, social, personal, and external factors all weigh in. Let's end the direct MH talk, please.
/6
Absolutely not. Suicide and mental health have a connection but they are not equivalent. Suicide is multifactorial and economic, social, personal, and external factors all weigh in. Let's end the direct MH talk, please.
/6
"What are you trying to say?"
I am presenting statistics. If you heard that suicides in Canada increased, you heard wrong. Suicides in Canada have convincingly decreased and the data is undeniable. That's it. Battling misinformation. Because that's what I do :)
/fin
I am presenting statistics. If you heard that suicides in Canada increased, you heard wrong. Suicides in Canada have convincingly decreased and the data is undeniable. That's it. Battling misinformation. Because that's what I do :)
/fin
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
