Lockdowns likely leading to an increase in suicides among the young
According to new research, the lockdowns that have shuttered all school sports are likely leading to an increase in youth suicides, even as the death rate for young people from COVID-19 is virtually nil.
The article at the link refers to a Washington Post article, which stated:
A survey of high school athletes conducted by the University of Wisconsin this summer found that approximately 68 percent of the 3,243 teens polled have reported feelings of anxiety and depression at levels that typically require medical intervention — nearly 40 percent higher than past studies. The study, which also found that physical activity levels were 50 percent lower for kids than before the pandemic, was labeled “striking and concerning” by one researcher.
The lead researcher of the study at Wisconsin, Tim McGuine, said in an interview in August that “the greatest risk [to student-athletes] is not covid-19. It’s suicide and drug use.”
From the earliest available data in March it was clear that there was no medical reason to shut down the schools (some countries never did and their children did not suffer for it). Since then this early data has been confirmed repeatedly.
Thus, the only reason to shut the schools and youth sports was an expression of unbridled power and panic by elected leaders not interested in data but very much interested in having control over everyone’s lives. Furthermore, that expression of power was not really interested in saving lives in the least, because if it was by this time these corrupt leaders would have rethought their policy and not only opened up the schools but would have ended many of their irrational lock down policies. Instead, they have been doubling down.
And if you don’t think these shutdowns are irrational and merely an expression of power, consider this: In Ohio the government has ruled that high school wrestlers can grapple and fight, but if they dare shake hands after the match they will be violating social distancing rules.
But it’s “SCIENCE!” they scream! I say, they are liars, both to us and to themselves.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
According to new research, the lockdowns that have shuttered all school sports are likely leading to an increase in youth suicides, even as the death rate for young people from COVID-19 is virtually nil.
The article at the link refers to a Washington Post article, which stated:
A survey of high school athletes conducted by the University of Wisconsin this summer found that approximately 68 percent of the 3,243 teens polled have reported feelings of anxiety and depression at levels that typically require medical intervention — nearly 40 percent higher than past studies. The study, which also found that physical activity levels were 50 percent lower for kids than before the pandemic, was labeled “striking and concerning” by one researcher.
The lead researcher of the study at Wisconsin, Tim McGuine, said in an interview in August that “the greatest risk [to student-athletes] is not covid-19. It’s suicide and drug use.”
From the earliest available data in March it was clear that there was no medical reason to shut down the schools (some countries never did and their children did not suffer for it). Since then this early data has been confirmed repeatedly.
Thus, the only reason to shut the schools and youth sports was an expression of unbridled power and panic by elected leaders not interested in data but very much interested in having control over everyone’s lives. Furthermore, that expression of power was not really interested in saving lives in the least, because if it was by this time these corrupt leaders would have rethought their policy and not only opened up the schools but would have ended many of their irrational lock down policies. Instead, they have been doubling down.
And if you don’t think these shutdowns are irrational and merely an expression of power, consider this: In Ohio the government has ruled that high school wrestlers can grapple and fight, but if they dare shake hands after the match they will be violating social distancing rules.
But it’s “SCIENCE!” they scream! I say, they are liars, both to us and to themselves.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Depression (esp. girls/young women) and suicide (esp. boys/young men) among the young are on the rise since a couple years. Their socioeconomic status and outlook is worse than that of earlier generations at the same age. Their uncertainties are higher, their (potential) debts are higher, their earning potentials are lower. Asset price inflation of recent years has made it less likely to live on their own (or even buy property). It makes them more cautious to take on opportunities or create families. That they’re indoctrinated with a mix of learned helplessness and (self-)hate [depends on their race/ethnicity and sex whether they learn to hate themselves or others] doesn’t help. Then they’re pushed into fake education and useless degrees, wasting years of their lives and their future. Of course, I’m generally speaking.
Lockdown might be just another nail in the coffin for many. But there are already twenty nails in it.
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But that’s all depressing stuff. It makes us sad. We don’t like to be sad. Here, have something to laugh about:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9055391/San-Francisco-rename-Lincoln-High-School-didnt-black-lives-mattered-him.html
But it’s “SCIENCE!” they scream! I say, they are liars, both to us and to themselves.
Seconded.
Ian: “Lockdown might be just another nail in the coffin for many. But there are already twenty nails in it.”
Kids have to be mighty tough to survive these days. Their childhoods are formed in a child-centric world. The destination of “growing up” is grim, dull, and mercurial, demanding a life of servitude to one’s own children, in the ideal model. But divorces happen …. Fathers become distant uncles because they don’t drop what they’re doing and make their kids the center of their lives when mom wants a divorce. Sorry, I am a declared sexist female. If nature is a sexist — and she is — then I’ll go with nature, that’s what has happened, sometimes the other way around but rarely. So boys grow up knowing that any permanent marriage and “normal” fatherhood may drift away like so much smoke easily, and little girls grow up with crazy expectations that make little sense. What do they have to look forward to, really? It’s very sad to see.
If I know anything about human nature and adolescents (I consider myself an expert on the latter as extended it for myself into my early 30s!), teens are suffering intensely right now, burning with misery and anxiousness not even seen in my time, the down and dirty free-love ’70s. I try to hear their music but often they only ape that of their parents, people who celebrate as an artist’s most memorable achievement, something he did when he was a mere pup of 25 or so! Oh well. I’ve had the good fortune to hear impromptu live music from 20 and 30 something kids, jam sessions and such. Their original music is often interesting, plaintive, angry in a controlled way, but philosophical spirit, and unique to their generation. I know that sounds touchy-feely, but music is a swift and sure messenger.