First, I'm sorry about your family/friends. I've seen a few families torn apart by suicide in my short time here on earth. It's terrible. I do want to point out there are likely more families that know of COVID19 deaths than suicide deaths this year. In 2017, there were 47,173 suicides. So far, there is over 200K recorded COVID19 deaths, and it is likely that is a slight under count. We expect suicides to go up this year, but will it be doubled, tripled, quadrupled??? Judging by all cause mortality so far this year....likely not. This is why it's important we judge by data and not only anecdotes.
I'm sure you weren't trying to be dishonest, but the statement " We are talking less than 1/10 of 1% of the overall US population has died from it" is being really dishonest. In 2017, the leading cause of death was heart disease at 647,457 deaths. This was 0.0001 of the population in 2017. Does that mean it's not a big deal and we shouldn't try to combat that?
"Its really hard for part of the population to care about individuals they don't know. Its even easier to care less if its costing you your livelihood, home, business, etc"
I can't help but think this a big problem in the U.S. Are we too individualistic? I agree with you about the livelihood aspect. I don't want someone to live under a bridge so I can live. However, there certainly has to be a middle ground we can reach to reasonably protect people. Never has there been a time in my life that I can remember where it's been so easy to help others by doing so little, and a sizable chunk of our population can't be bothered with it.