Nick Guthe recently lost his wife, Heidi, to suicide. Heidi had been struggling with long-COVID symptoms for 13 months, Nick said in an interview with ABC News: “Her feet, feeling like bees were stinging them. Her lymph nodes, swollen. Distracting neurological tremors inside her chest…In the end, she literally thought death was a better choice.” Tragically, Nick and Heidi’s story is not an isolated one. 

Long COVID and Suicide

Reports of COVID long-haulers taking their lives are increasing at an alarming rate. While exact numbers are not known, an informal poll taken on the online support group Survivor Corps showed that 18% of respondents had suicidal thoughts due to their long-COVID symptoms.

The burden of this mental health crisis is illustrated by more rigorous studies. An article in the European Respiratory Journal revealed that 13.8% of study participants–adults with long- COVID–also showed symptoms of depression, and 10.5% were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Research published last November indicates that 20% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 were also diagnosed within three months with a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety, depression or insomnia.

The National Institutes of Health are recommending mental health screening for COVID long-haulers to address this crisis, and they have stated that long-COVID-related suicide is being added as a new research priority.

Restaurateur and Philanthropist Commits Suicide amid Long-Covid Symptoms 

In one of the higher-profile examples of this tragic correlation, Texas Roadhouse restaurant founder and CEO Kent Taylor recently took his own life while battling post-covid symptoms. While it’s not clear exactly when Taylor was diagnosed, a joint statement from his family and company said that his symptoms and suffering had greatly intensified and became unbearable. 

Among Taylor’s many symptoms were severe tinnitus, a condition involving a ringing in the ears, and one linked to long-COVID in recent research. Taylor had previously committed to funding a clinical study to help members of the military experiencing the condition. 

National Suicide Prevention Week

This week marks National Suicide Prevention Week. The topic of suicide is still scary for many people to think about and one of increased urgency among COVID long haulers. For some, talking about suicide makes it seem too real, brings the topic too close to home, but it’s because it is real that it needs to be discussed. 

By learning about why people consider suicide, what we can do to help prevent it, and what support resources are available, and by finding the courage to start open, non-judgemental conversations with people who may be at risk, we can remove some of the fear and stigma that surround the topic, and empower ourselves and our communities to save lives, in the most literal sense.

How to Get Involved

You can show your support during National Suicide Prevention Week in multiple ways. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has put together a comprehensive suite of resources as well as an events calendar to guide you in your advocacy. Resources cover a wide range of topics, including: 

• Self-Care Strategies for Resilience
• Simple Actions You Can Take to Help Prevent Suicide
• How to Have an Open and Honest Conversation about Suicide 
• Ad Scripts for Local and Regional Media Outlets

On September 10, the organization will be holding a Facebook Live for World Suicide Prevention Day from 12-8 pm EST. Sign in or get involved in another way to show your support!

*American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2021). National Suicide Prevention Week. https://afsp.org/national-suicide-prevention-week

Much about the novel coronavirus, i.e., COVID-19, is still not fully understood. As research progresses and our knowledge of the virus increases, information can change rapidly. We strive to update all of our articles as quickly as possible, but there may occasionally be some lag between scientific developments and our revisions.