Police talk down suicidal man who lost his business due to covid-19

Police Talk Down Suicidal Man Who Lost His Business Due to COVID-19

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1 min read
July 20, 2020

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Governor Phil  Murphy’s extended lockdown in New Jersey has now crossed the line from economic loss and it is quickly becoming a mental health crisis.  This was evident in a recent interaction between Jackson Township Police and a man who lost his business due to the COVID-19 shutdown.  On Friday, at around 6:23 pm, Jackson Police officers responded to a residence in the township on the report of a 43-year-old male who was reported to be intoxicated and depressed about the loss of business and other issues and had made threats to harm himself.  The male was located and the officers were able to speak with him and transport him to an area hospital for treatment.

The problem is a growing issue across New Jersey and America.  COVID-19 and the business shutdown associated with it has sparked a new national mental health emergency.

“Nearly 7 in 10 employees indicated in a survey by mental health provider Ginger that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the most stressful time of their entire professional career, which has aligned with stark increases in new prescriptions of antidepressant, antianxiety, and anti-insomnia medications,” reports AMGEN, an employer information source.

According to a recent study, the greatest increase was in prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications, which rose 34.1% from mid-February to mid-March, including a week-over-week spike of nearly 18% during the week ending March 15. The number of prescriptions filled for antidepressants and sleep disorders increased 18.6% and 14.8%, respectively, from February 16 to March 15.

That research found the following to be true:

  • More than three quarters (78%) of all antidepressant, antianxiety and anti-insomnia prescriptions filled during the week ending  March 15th (the peak week) were for new prescriptions.
  • The percent increase in the number of new prescriptions  between the week of February 16 and week ending March 15 for the all three categories was 25.4%
  • The percent increase in the number of new prescriptions between the week of February 16 and week ending March 15 for anti-anxiety medications was 37.7%

 

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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