I'm not saying that we shouldn't be concerned on the mental health impact of COVID and our societal response to it.
I'm saying that arguments that mental health problems and possible suicides attributed aren't reasons to OPEN NOW and not wear masks. Because:
1. Where's the data of suicides that can be attributed to the COVID response?
2. Do you really think that that number of suicides is going to be significant enough to warrant a change in behavior (open now, no masks) such that opening up completely without masks isn't going to be the cause of even more deaths?
3. The alternative to the restrictive policies that were put in place to contain COVID is not to have had those restrictions at all. Which would have meant many, many more deaths and many cities' ICUs and morgues being overwhelmed. And that would also cause a mental health problem of continuous grief and anxiety, leading to just as many if not more suicides.
But, of course, that's conjecture on my part. Just like the conjecture on the part of those who say the suicide rate has gotten so bad that the only solution is to open now. And stop wearing masks.