States are in varying phases of ending their lockdown. You have some States like Georgia that have been open for a while and then you have places like California which will fully open soon or Michigan which just extended their lockdown until June 12th. A Californian Trauma Doctor is begging that California open up right away as he claims this lockdown has hurt the mental well being of young adults. Dr. Mike deBoisblanc claims he has seen a year’s worth of suicide attempts in the past weeks.
“Personally I think it’s time,” said Dr. Mike deBoisblanc. “I think, originally, this (the shelter-in-place order) was put in place to flatten the curve and to make sure hospitals have the resources to take care of COVID patients.We have the current resources to do that and our other community health is suffering.”
The numbers are unprecedented, he said.
“We’ve never seen numbers like this, in such a short period of time,” he said. “I mean we’ve seen a year’s worth of suicide attempts in the last four weeks.”
Kacey Hansen has worked as a trauma nurse at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek for almost 33 years. She is worried because not only are they seeing more suicide attempts, she says they are not able to save as many patients as usual.
“What I have seen recently, I have never seen before,” Hansen said. “I have never seen so much intentional injury.”
The trauma team is speaking out because they want the community to be aware, for people to reach out and support each other and for those who are suffering to know they can get help.”
The staff agrees that the lockdown was initially necessary to flatten the curve but at this point it is starting to hurt young adults who are in need of social interactions. States should be opening up at this point, it’s not just the young adult at risk here, our economy also needs us to be fully open again. We should just wear masks, keep some distance, and get back to work. In places where that’s not possible check for fevers and pray for the best.
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