Impotent to change repression, one in ten Australians living in the Australian state of Victoria have said they seriously considered suicide during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, according to a new survey.

In its latest issue, the Journal of Psychiatric Research reported that one in ten of over a thousand Victorians surveyed ‘reported having seriously considered suicide in the prior 30 days’ when the poll was taken in September 2020.

Furthermore, one in five Victorians experienced suicidal thoughts during lockdown, while one-third said they suffered ’anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms.’

Shockingly, the survey also revealed that 12.3% of Victorians had ‘started or increased substance use (illegal drugs) to cope with the pandemic,’ while over 20% had experienced insomnia during lockdown.

Mark Czeisler, the author of the report, told ABC News that the survey results showed ’concerningly high levels of adverse mental and behavioural health symptoms’. It was important for those people suffering mental health problems to realise they were not alone.

Victoria has experienced some of Australia’s toughest and longest lockdowns. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Victoria police have been criticised for their heavy-handed approach to dealing with suspected coronavirus restriction-breakers, with several videos of alleged brutality going viral online. Anti-lockdown protests have also been held in the state.

This week, it was revealed that recent spikes of children in England being prescribed antidepressants had coincided with Covid-19 lockdowns, when they were kept inside and away from school, friends and extended family. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!