Dr. Asim Shah, Chief of Psychiatry at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital,

Dr. Asim Shah, Chief of Psychiatry at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital,

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Amid Rising Suicide Rates, Harris Health Expert Advocates for Post-Pandemic Education

Three years have passed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a concerning trend has emerged. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 2.6% increase in suicide rates for 2021 and 2022. This brings the annual total of suicides in the United States to nearly 50,000. Dr. Asim Shah, Chief of Psychiatry at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, finds this situation tragic and calls for greater education and research to understand the pandemic's role in this surge in suicides.