“Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we have witnessed an increase in psychiatric problems and pathologies, such as depression, anxiety, isolation, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and burnout. The world’s collective sentiment finally turned toward optimism aft...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2141 |
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| author | Sara Sablone Lorenzo Spagnolo Enrica Macorano Mauro Claudio Ciavarella Natascha Pascale Giuseppe Strisciullo Francesco Introna Aldo Di Fazio |
| author_facet | Sara Sablone Lorenzo Spagnolo Enrica Macorano Mauro Claudio Ciavarella Natascha Pascale Giuseppe Strisciullo Francesco Introna Aldo Di Fazio |
| author_sort | Sara Sablone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we have witnessed an increase in psychiatric problems and pathologies, such as depression, anxiety, isolation, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and burnout. The world’s collective sentiment finally turned toward optimism after authorization was granted for the COVID-19 vaccines’ emergency use by the FDA in December 2020. With the increase in vaccine coverage in Western countries, case counts and deaths gradually plummeted while activity restrictions were progressively lifted. At the same time, however, a new COVID-19-related public health issue has arisen, as a substantial number of eligible individuals refused vaccination. Behaviors assumed by the so-called anti-vax people in manifesting their own opposition towards COVID-19 vaccination are various, and sometimes assume the forms of dramatic gestures with symbolic value, such as suicide. Here, we present the case of a healthy, convinced anti-vax, 58-year-old man, who allowed himself to be run over by a moving train in the presence of eyewitnesses, bringing with him a demonstrative note of his reasons. The present article aims to raise awareness against the social and psychological impact of COVID-19 vaccination refusal and to point out the need of a specific support net to avoid the spread of psychological impairment, social isolation and suicidal behaviors among the “anti-vax community”. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:03:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fabb6dfaea0d4ff6ae6969d58ab53dd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:03:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-fabb6dfaea0d4ff6ae6969d58ab53dd42023-11-24T04:50:27ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-10-011011214110.3390/healthcare10112141“Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax ManSara Sablone0Lorenzo Spagnolo1Enrica Macorano2Mauro Claudio Ciavarella3Natascha Pascale4Giuseppe Strisciullo5Francesco Introna6Aldo Di Fazio7Section of Legal Medicine, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyPublic Health Unit, Local Health Authority of Brindisi, 72100 Brindisi, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyRegional Complex Intercompany Institute of Legal Medicine, 85100 Potenza, ItalyRegional Complex Intercompany Institute of Legal Medicine, 85100 Potenza, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyRegional Complex Intercompany Institute of Legal Medicine, 85100 Potenza, ItalySince the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we have witnessed an increase in psychiatric problems and pathologies, such as depression, anxiety, isolation, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and burnout. The world’s collective sentiment finally turned toward optimism after authorization was granted for the COVID-19 vaccines’ emergency use by the FDA in December 2020. With the increase in vaccine coverage in Western countries, case counts and deaths gradually plummeted while activity restrictions were progressively lifted. At the same time, however, a new COVID-19-related public health issue has arisen, as a substantial number of eligible individuals refused vaccination. Behaviors assumed by the so-called anti-vax people in manifesting their own opposition towards COVID-19 vaccination are various, and sometimes assume the forms of dramatic gestures with symbolic value, such as suicide. Here, we present the case of a healthy, convinced anti-vax, 58-year-old man, who allowed himself to be run over by a moving train in the presence of eyewitnesses, bringing with him a demonstrative note of his reasons. The present article aims to raise awareness against the social and psychological impact of COVID-19 vaccination refusal and to point out the need of a specific support net to avoid the spread of psychological impairment, social isolation and suicidal behaviors among the “anti-vax community”.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2141anti-vaxsuicideforensic pathologyforensic psychiatry |
| spellingShingle | Sara Sablone Lorenzo Spagnolo Enrica Macorano Mauro Claudio Ciavarella Natascha Pascale Giuseppe Strisciullo Francesco Introna Aldo Di Fazio “Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man Healthcare anti-vax suicide forensic pathology forensic psychiatry |
| title | “Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man |
| title_full | “Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man |
| title_fullStr | “Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man |
| title_short | “Freedom and Dignity Are Worth More than Life”: The Dramatic Suicide of an Anti-Vax Man |
| title_sort | freedom and dignity are worth more than life the dramatic suicide of an anti vax man |
| topic | anti-vax suicide forensic pathology forensic psychiatry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2141 |
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