Mental health…absolutely. The numbers support that.
He is addressing suicide rates though. And has NFI.
The suicide rate drop is certainly an interesting one. Been pondering that recently.
Certainly with the added stress, widespread job losses and the toll of isolation and loneliness you’d expect it to go up - Personally, I sank into a seriously bad depression last year after being made redundant with closed interstate borders and reduced manning levels at sites within VIC making it seem unlikely I’d find work again any time soon. The lack of any emotional support at home (I don’t even have a fucking pet) and not being able to rely on the support of friends during lockdown really bit hard. Fortunately I went and got professional help and sorted myself out but it could so easily have gone the other way (tbh it came pretty close on a couple of occasions)
But then for a lot of people maybe the enormity of it all, the stress of the constant changes and the drama of losing work actually helps? Fight or flight instincts kicking in over the general malaise, apathy etc. which are often a driving force of depressive behaviour?
Another thing worth pondering is that have the suicide numbers merely shifted (albeit while reducing a bit as well?) Bullying and peer pressure is a big factor in teen suicide and is something that often carries through to adulthood with workplace bullying and social anxiety being big factors. Have closed schools/working from home and/or not having the stress of having to deal with people socially actually helped save a lot of at risk people while unfortunately leading to the deaths of others?
I’m just spit-balling here but it is a weird set of circumstances, all things considered.