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Why hasn’t there been more discussion of the impact Trump’s Presidency may be having on depression, substance abuse, and suicide? (1/x)
Studies already identify an unprecedented increase in stress, much of it directly attributed to Trump being elected. apa.org/news/press/rel… 
Research during the campaign found students are feeling more fear and anxiety due to a “Trump effect” in schools. splcenter.org/sites/default/…
All of this - stress, anxiety - are well-established predictors of increased rates of substance abuse and suicide.
These studies were done during campaign/shortly after the inauguration. But there’s no reason to think the stress level has fallen since...
If anything, the past 10 months of Trump’s Presidency have been a continuation of sustained/chronic stress that would exacerbate things.
And that’s just the political climate Trump has fueled. Doesn’t include his proposed policies (cuts to Medicaid, substance abuse treatment).
This means when we talk about drugs/opioid epidemic it isn’t happening in a vacuum: it may already be being exacerbated by this presidency.
It also means we should be asking these questions/teasing out these linkages in forthcoming studies on mental health/substance abuse.
And it requires attention to who’ll be impacted most by this: the people Trump’s presidency directly threatens - people of color, LGBT, etc.
