State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) said that “As it stands, suicide kills far more Texans annually than COVID-19.” He went on to say that it looks as though the new coronavirus won’t crack the top 20 causes of death in Texas this year.
Is that a fact?
Madlin Mekelburg with Politifact Texas looked into this claim, originally tweeted by Oliverson. He was replying to another tweet by former Republican State Rep. Matt Rinaldi from Irving, who shared an article from a Fort Worth television station about an increase in calls to a mental health helpline during March and April.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is available through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255 at any time, if you need help.
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