Pandemic Amplifies Need for National Dialog About Suicide

A new Harris Poll survey of more than 2000 US adults aged ≥18 years found the majority (81%) say the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more important than ever to make suicde prevention a national priority.

More than half of respondents (52%) also report being more open to talking about mental health as a result of conditions imposed by the pandemic.

The survey, conducted by Harris on behalf of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and Education Development Center, updates similar surveys conducted in 2015 and 2018 on public perceptions of suicide prevention and this year included questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights of those responses are offered in the slides below. The online survey was conducted from July 22-24, 2020, among 2072 US adults.