The Silent Toll of Long COVID: Suicide Risk

Living with long COVID can be a profoundly alienating and challenging experience. Beyond the physical symptoms, many individuals grapple with significant mental health burdens. 

Research notes, “depression, anxiety, posttraumatic symptoms, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and cognitive deficits are the most frequently reported neuropsychiatric manifestations of long COVID.”

These mental health conditions increase the risk of suicidal ideation and behavior, with those who have had COVID being “46% more likely to have suicidal ideation during the post-acute phase.”

The cumulative impact of these mental health struggles can severely diminish an individual’s sense of hope and self-esteem. Moreover, the belief that they are alone in their complex experiences can create immense personal challenges.

Please know the team at Aviv Clinics is here to support you and your loved ones in healing from the physical and psychological impacts of COVID. In this article, we explore long COVID and suicide risk and what can be done to support individuals facing this challenge.

Understanding the Link Between Long COVID and Suicide Risk

In May 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. While the state of public emergency may have ended, the health journey of those affected has not. (Research shows nearly 150 million people have developed long-COVID during the first two years of the pandemic).

The long-term repercussions of COVID-19 still impact numerous individuals, with the symptoms of long COVID lasting months or even years after initial infection and often affecting emotional well-being.

Factors that Heighten Suicide Risk 

The invisible burden: Long COVID can present with a constellation of invisible symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and chronic pain. These invisible struggles, which leave many feeling isolated and frustrated, can lead to despair, especially as months or years pass without improvement in symptoms

• Financial strain: The ongoing medical expenses and potential loss of income from inability to work can create financial strain, adding to the emotional burden. This leaves many feeling helpless and powerless. 

• Loss of normalcy and identity: For many people, long COVID disrupts daily routines, hobbies, and social connections, resulting in a profound sense of loss and a diminished sense of self. One may feel entirely disconnected from oneself and the world around them. 

What the Data Says 

While more research is needed to understand long COVID suicide rates, recent studies reveal a notable increase in mental health challenges among individuals living with long COVID: 

• “A substantial percentage of patients with confirmed COVID-19 and persistent complaints reported symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression 3 and 6 months after the onset of COVID-19–related symptoms.”

• Three months after COVID infection, “37.2% (89/239) of the patients had symptoms of PTSD, 35.6% (85/239) had symptoms of anxiety, and 46.9% (112/239) had symptoms of depression, which remained high at the 6-month follow-up.”

• It has also been observed that pre-infection psychosocial distress characterized by depression, anxiety, worry, perceived stress, and loneliness was associated with a substantial increase in the suicide risk among individuals with long COVID.

These findings underscore the urgent need for increased awareness and support for those long COVID patients experiencing mental health challenges. Researchers urge healthcare professionals to be vigilant of these psychological complications. The sooner they can intervene, the more people they can protect against suicidal ideation and behaviors. 

The Physical-Mental Health Connection

The physical and mental aspects of long COVID are intricately intertwined. Persistent physical and cognitive symptoms can take a toll on an individual’s mood, energy levels, and overall quality of life.

Moreover, damage to brain tissues as a result of COVID infection may directly contribute to mental health struggles. In fact, studies show the enduring impact of long COVID can lead to ”specific brain structural changes identified two years post-infection.” These changes can impact emotional regulation in the brain. 

Isolation and Loneliness

The limitations imposed by long COVID, such as reduced social interaction and the need to shield from potential reinfection, can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The “hidden” or “silent” symptoms can further exacerbate these feelings, making it difficult for friends and family to fully understand the challenges faced by those living with the condition. This may lead to them being stigmatized by others, resulting in further isolation.

Loneliness and social isolation can have profound effects on a person’s mental health and are “associated with an approximately five-fold increase in risk of mortality from suicide.” Fortunately, these effects are often reversible with the right support.

---

Learn More: Long COVID Symptoms List: What They Are and Why They Stick Around

---

How to Support Someone with Long COVID at Risk of Suicide

If someone in your life struggles with long COVID and is at risk of suicide, you can play a crucial role in supporting them. By providing emotional support and encouraging them to seek help, you can make a significant impact on their recovery.

• Create a safe space: Offer an empathetic listening ear. Let them know you’re there for them without judgment, allowing them to share their feelings openly and validating their experiences.

• Encourage professional help: Gently encourage them to seek professional mental health support from a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Suggest joining a long COVID support group to connect with others who understand their experiences.

• Provide valuable resources: Share contact information for crisis helplines, suicide prevention organizations, and support networks for long COVID sufferers.

• Crisis hotlines: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline); 741741 (Crisis Text Line)

• Suicide prevention organizations: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; other organizations and agencies

• Long COVID support networks: Mayo Clinic; additional resources from the CDC (bottom of page)

---

Stories that Paint a Portrait of the Reality of Long COVID and Suicidal Ideation

Lynette Milakovich’s life was dramatically altered by long COVID. She experienced debilitating symptoms like brain fog, neuropathy, and tremors. Then, things took a dark turn with bouts of depression, severe anxiety, suicidal ideations, PTSD, and apathy.

“I spent more than a year and a half of my life in constant pain and agony. Under the advice of my primary care provider (PCP) and a psychiatrist, I tried treatment plans including COVID treatment centers, endocrinology, ENT, acupuncture, naturopathy, and IV therapy. Not only was there an emotional toll these false hopes were causing for me and my family, but even with insurance, I spent almost $20,000 out of pocket for these failed treatment plans. …

The hardest part was the loss of connection with the people I love. I could not play an active role in their lives. I was a shell of the person I once was.”

 

---

Josh White, an attorney and law firm COO, was diagnosed with COVID pneumonia in 2021. He suffered from tremors and excruciating pain beneath his legs that left him unable to work. The chronic pain brought on depression, and Josh began distancing himself from his family.

“Attention, memory, people skills, executive function, brain speed, navigation. All of these things were impacted. I had never experienced anything like it in my life. And you know, when you’re the COO of a company with 75 employees and you have to be on your A-game … it was hard.

As time wore on, I just became more and more discouraged, more and more depressed. Eventually, I actually explored the idea, notwithstanding the fact that I have five kids, of euthanizing myself, because I couldn’t bear the torture that came and visited me every day.” 

 

---

Finding Hope and Building Resilience at Aviv Clinics

Recovery is possible. The medical team at Aviv Clinics understands the multifaceted nature of long COVID, including its profound impact on mental and emotional well-being.  

Our integrated approach addresses the root causes of long COVID, including neurological and metabolic dysfunction, which can significantly contribute to improved mood, cognitive function, and overall quality of life.

Lynnette and Josh found hope and resilience, and so can you. Learn where they are today, thanks to the Aviv Medical Program.

---

Lynnette Finds Her Way Back to Herself and the World Around Her

“If I had not gone through the program and had come here, I would be in the same boat. I would be isolated. I would be not going anywhere, not connecting with anybody.”

---

Josh Wins Back His Functionality and Family 

“These folks here are inspired to help take away the suffering, the loss of our talents, our abilities. And now my kids have their dad back. My kids wear Aviv swag proudly to school.” 

---

You Can Seek Help at Aviv Clinics

Life with long COVID can be full of challenges and frustrations, but it’s crucial to remember you’re not alone. If you’re struggling with the physical or mental health impacts of long COVID, please reach out to us. 

Aviv Clinics is here to offer hope. Let’s discuss your concerns and needs and, if you feel comfortable, start creating a personalized health plan that addresses your emotional, psychological, cognitive, and physical well-being.

Learn more about Aviv Clinics and how our unique medical program can help you on your recovery journey.