(Newswire.net — March 15, 2021) —
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on society as a whole, and the stress of living in these times, as well as prolonged isolation, is leading to a rise in substance abuse and mental health problems. People have been robbed of many of their healthy coping mechanisms, like spending time with friends and family.
Ben Mesika explains how the pandemic has exacerbated these issues and what concerned citizens can do to help their neighbors in need.
Substance Abuse Problems
According to the CDC, 13 percent of Americans admitted to starting substance use or increasing it as a way of coping with overwhelming stress and negative emotions caused by the pandemic. There has also been a troubling rise in the number of overdoses of stimulant and opioid medications. 40 states have experienced increases in mortality related to opioids since the beginning of the pandemic.
The reasons why people are using more drugs and alcohol during the pandemic are many. People are suffering from grief and loss. They are experiencing many crushing pressures like job loss and a lack of childcare.
Many employees who are fortunate enough to have a job worry that they will catch COVID while they are working. Others who have begun working from home feel isolated and unable to deal with the stress and pressure associated with their working situation.
Mental Health Conditions
During the pandemic, many people are not seeing their primary care doctors for many chronic conditions, including emergent mental health conditions. A primary care doctor is generally the first point of contact between a patient and the mental health system, with a doctor providing a referral to a psychiatrist and/or therapist for further treatment. Fear of getting medical care during the pandemic has kept many people away from the doctor’s office, and as such, has caused many people to miss out on the preventive care they could otherwise receive.
People with mental health conditions are more vulnerable than others to the effects of stress and disruption. For a person with a mental health disorder, it does not take much to push them from coping with life to barely hanging on. Community members and clinicians need to treat these people with care and compassion and remember that mental health conditions are extremely common in the population.
The Dangers of Isolation
Isolation is dangerous for people of all age groups, but it has proven most severe among elderly populations. Many elderly people have been forcibly separated from their support groups since March 2020, and while vaccines are becoming available, there remains a significant period of time before life will return to “normal.” Isolated seniors are more likely to fall victim to depression, anxiety, and dementia. Even seniors who had previously been able to cope with the demands of their lives before the pandemic are experiencing social and emotional problems.
It is cruel to separate elders from their families, but families know that they are only trying to protect their loved ones. Still, grandparents see priceless time with their loved ones slipping away as the pandemic wears on. It is understandable that latent mental health conditions could be brought up during these difficult times and that people who had previously seemed well-adjusted are struggling.
Isolation has also had damaging effects on children. Since schools have largely been closed, children have received nearly all of their social interaction online. The youngest children struggle to keep up and pay attention to online schooling, and older children fall into the trap of becoming dependent on video games and social media. These children can also exhibit signs of serious mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
ADHD and the Pandemic
Another mental health condition that has been exacerbated by the pandemic is ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Many children who were able to cope in a regular classroom have experienced damaging effects from the pandemic. Diagnosis of this condition has risen significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. In most cases, it is not that ADHD is caused by the pandemic but that the stressful conditions children have found themselves under have brought out latent conditions.
How to Help Community Members Cope
The most important thing that community members can do to help people suffering from pandemic-related substance abuse or mental health disorders is to be compassionate. Many people may look down on those with substance abuse or mental health disorders, believing that they are somehow lesser than themselves or that they lack willpower. Under these uniquely stressful conditions, even well-adjusted people can find themselves turning to drugs or alcohol or struggling to cope with daily life.
People who are struggling should be encouraged to see their primary care doctors for help. They can be referred to services that can help them. If people know of a friend or family member who is having problems, they can also be encouraged to use community support services like Alcoholics Anonymous. Online COVID-safe meetings are available in most cities.
Ben Mesika believes that the medical community needs to pay more attention to the pandemic’s effect on our mental health. While there is light at the end of the tunnel, much of the American population is still under a great deal of stress. The community can come together to help support its most vulnerable citizens.