The suicide rate dropped by more than 50% in Manitowoc County during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Donna Firman of Prevent Suicide Manitowoc County tells Seehafer News “it’s an interesting phenomenon” that follows the national trend.
“I think the reason for that is because people had more support during that year, not less,” she explained. “We gathered together as a community. We were watching out for each other, making sure people had food, making sure they had hope. We were looking out for one another in a way that was really hopeful.
Firman added, “Now that we’re returning to normal, I’m concerned and waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. I’m actually more concerned now than during the lockdown.”
She was asked about the segment of the population most at risk to fall victim to suicide, and she said that distinction falls on middle-aged white men. a
“They tend not to talk, or share their feelings with each other,” Firman explained. “You know, women go to the hair salon and share our feelings, we talk about everything that is on our minds and what’s going on in our lives. Men don’t do that.”
Donna Firman said their vision is to end suicide through education and building resiliency in people, busting stigma, and treating suicide as just another medical problem because that’s all it is.
