Australia: Suicide rate could increase by 50% due to coronavirus pandemic

suicide rate in Australia could shoot up by 50 per cent as social and ecomic impact of coronavirus pandemic were taking a toll on people's mental health, international media reported citing experts. As of w, COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in death of  97 across  Australian territory. Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, Australians had already battled unprecedented bushfires that charred millions of hectares. 

Could last 5 years

On May 7, a group of Australian mental health experts reportedly warned that impact of COVID-19 on country's ecomy could result in additional 1,500 suicides per year, in addition to 3,000 annual aver. y added that se many deaths could turn out to be above number of deaths directly linked to COVID-19. y furr said that suicide rate could last for five years if current ecomic downturn was longer than 12 months.

Speaking to international media reporters, Ian Hickie, co-director of University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre said that impact of unemployment would be greatest among youth and those who lived in rural and regional Australia. He added that those areas would t recover quickly. In addendum to warning, scientists also called for immediate action, long-tern investment and modelling on mental health to address issue. 

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Meanwhile, ar group of researchers has found that suicide was leading cause of over 300 “n-coronavirus deaths” reported in India due to distress triggered by nationwide lockdown.  group, comprising public interest techlogist jesh GN, activist Kanika Sharma and assistant professor of legal practice at Jindal Global School of Law Aman, said 338 deaths have occurred from March 19 till May 2 and y are related to lockdown.

According to data, 80 people killed mselves due to loneliness and fear of being tested positive for virus. suicides are followed by migrants dying in accidents on ir way back home (51), deaths associated with withdrawal symptoms (45), and those related to starvation and financial distress (36).

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(Im credits: AP)