COVID-19 Related Data in the State of Virginia March 19th –June 27, 2020
Executive Summary
PRS CrisisLink began basic data collection regarding COVID-19 calls on March 19th, 2020. Over the past 30+ days of collection, calls related to COVID-19 have steadily increased across the state, but decreased in northern Virginia. On page two, the data will indicate an increased number of contacts in which COVID-19 was indicated as a primary stressor and the client also indicated active and current suicide thoughts. PRS CrisisLink cautions any data related to suicide not be considered correlational or causal. Suicide is a complex issue and the majority of clients we serve have pre-existing stressors to suicide thoughts which have been compounded by the pandemic and not triggered by the pandemic crisis. It is important to note the added stress and trauma of the pandemic is leading to a stronger sense of helplessness and hopelessness for many of the most vulnerable community members.
Calls related to Emotional Distress due to COVID-19 March 19 - June 27, 2020 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 March March March April 5 - April 12- April 19- April 26- May 3-9 May 10 - May 17- May 24- May 31 - June 7 - June 14- June 21- 15-21 22-28 29-Apr 4 11 18 25 May 2 16 23 30 June 6 13 20 27
Local State
The local descriptor indicates calls from the northern Virginia region (HPR2). State calls extend beyond HPR2 with the highest concentration of calls in Hampton Roads.
Calls related to Emotional Distress due to COVID-19 with Acute Suicide Thoughts March 19-June 20 70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% March March March April 5 - April 12- April 19- April 26- May 3-9 May 10 - May 17- May 24- May 31 - June 7 - June 14- June 21- 15-21 22-28 29-Apr 4 11 18 25 May 2 16 23 30 June 6 13 20 27 COVID-19 Related Data in the State of Virginia March 19th – June 27, 2020
Calls Related to Job Loss, Economic Stressors, and Illness related to COVID-19 March 19 – June 27, 2020 250
200
150
100
50
0 March March March April 5 - April 12- April 19- April 26- May 3-9 May 10 - May 17- May 24- May 31 - June 7 - June 14- June 21- 15-21 22-28 29-Apr 4 11 18 25 May 2 16 23 30 June 6 13 20 27
Job Loss Economic Sick
Percentage of Calls with Topics of Interest Related to COVID-19 April 12-June 27, 2020 35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0% Substance Use Relapse Trauma/PTSD Family Conflict
All Calls COVID Calls
Calls to PRS CrisisLink are complex and when a client describes their stressors, they may indicate many different reasons for their distress. PRS CrisisLink has slowly been identifying common themes in calls. Job loss, economic concerns and illness are the most commonly requested statistics from stakeholders. Last week, PRS CrisisLink added substance use, relapse, trauma reactions and family conflict as collectible data points. The second graph demonstrates the percentage of calls in which these topics differentiate between total calls received and those in which COVID is the primary stressor the client indicates as the reason for their call.
If your organization would like to see additional data points added, please contact PRS CrisisLink Director, Laura Mayer [email protected] to indicate your data point of interest. COVID-19 Related Data in the State of Virginia April and May 2020 Summary
Calls to PRS CrisisLink related to COVID-19 in 2020
800 745 699 700 600 500 424 393 400 300 200 100 0 April May
Local Total State Total
Calls to PRS CrisisLink related to COVID-19 Related Issues in 2020
400
350 334
300 276
250 216 200 182
150 107 100 59 50
0 Job Loss Economic Sick
April May
Of calls about COVID-19 were from individuals who were actively considering 41% suicide with majority of primary stressors being job and economic stressors.