The Price of “Public Health” . . . You are not Alone

We’re almost four weeks into this new reality of “flattening the curve” for covid-19.

While the social isolation/distancing measures are meant to save lives, a very real consequence of them, ironically, is more deaths. That’s because as rates of unemployment increase, deaths increase – unemployment increases the risk of dying by 63%! (1) Part of that is the impact unemployment has on mental health – suicide rates rise about 1% for every one percentage point increase in unemployment. (2)

More than 17 million unemployment claims have been filed in the past 3 weeks and it is projected to continue to increase.(3)

Unfortunately my own observations are demonstrating this is already happening. Just in the past couple of days while scrolling posts and reading comments I am stunned at the number of people commenting how someone they know took their life recently. 😞💔

Two air force cadet seniors took their lives and in response, the US Air Force Academy has eased the social distancing restrictions.(4)

Does the threat and impact of covid-19 really justify these measures that have their own disastrous consequences?

I don’t think so. The data doesn’t support it. I think far more people will die from the impact of the social distancing/isolation measures than from covid-19. (5,6,7)

This has been on my mind and then this morning I open the Jesus Calling app and below is the devotional for today. How perfect. Please take the time to read it. I truly believe it is God speaking to all of us and it is a message we all need to hear.

To everyone out there struggling with the social distancing/isolation – THIS WAS MEANT FOR YOU TOO. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Please please please, reach out to someone if you need to talk, or some company. Your life is valuable. I personally will throw “social distancing” out the damn window if someone is in need and I’m sure I’m not the only one. #stayhuman

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME; nothing can separate you from My Love. Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you. When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone. Your focus becomes problem solving. To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My Presence.

Many problems vanish instantly in the Light of My Love because you realize you are never alone. Other problems may remain, but they become secondary to knowing Me and rejoicing in the relationship I so freely offer you. Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38–39

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
—Exodus 33:14

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
—John 12:46 nkjv

(1) sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027795361100044X

(2) Economic suicides in the Great Recession in Europe and North America ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24925987

(3) wsj.com/articles/u-s-surge-in-unemployment-claims-expected-to-continue-11586424605

(4) nypost.com/2020/04/02/air-force-academy-relaxes-social-distancing-rules-after-cadet-suicides/

(5) ccn.com/chillingly-scariest-coronavirus-death-toll-may-not-come-from-covid-19/

(6) reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-usa-cost/

(7) childrenshealthdefense.org/news/will-deaths-of-despair-outpace-deaths-from-coronavirus/