D
Deleted member 149005
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There's a bigger picture here, I think.
Even assuming that there's an increase on suicides during lockdown and other COVID-19 measures (and in fact it is very likely to be the case even if we are not yet able to collect data to quantify it), the fact remains that our government has the obligation of looking at the situation rationally and dispassionately.
Every individual is 100% for their loved ones, and the loss-of-life resulting from suicide can not be compensated-for by statistics.
But ultimately it's the government's responsibility to choose the lesser of the two evils - COVID-19 and mental health. Both cause misery, devastation, and ultimately deaths.
I am not suggesting that I know that the government has indeed done the right thing, and even when choosing one over the other there are still various mitigation that the government can and should employ to help those adversely affected by its COVID-19 policies, both financially and mentally.
My point, however, is that an increase on one type of loss-of-life, as sad and regrettable as it is, shouldn't be used as an automatic condemnation of government policies - instead, we should look at the larger context before passing judgement.
my broader point was that "In October 2020, more people died by suicide in Japan than were killed by the coronavirus in 10 months." is a meaningless statistic as it has no context...