Mental Health

The COVID-19 crisis has ushered in a “new normal” in 2020 and is widely viewed as the most disruptive event of our times. With all countries actively battling the COVID-19 virus, it has taken its toll in everyday lives the world over, both personally and professionally. The pressing mental health need doesn’t have a vaccine or therapeutic to offer as a quick fix. Even before 2020, 1-in-5 Americans reported experiencing a mental illness in a given year(1). Social distancing measures over the past few months have further exacerbated feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and isolation.

As a faith-based community and as a nation, we need to recognize the place that stress and trauma have in our lives. People who have suffered trauma previously are now further at risk for poor mental health outcomes that may include depression, anxiety, and additional traumatic responses. Isolation can aggravate much of what we feel that we have already been struggling with and can instill a sense of hopelessness.

As a faith-based community and as a nation, we need to recognize the place that stress and trauma have in our lives. People who have suffered trauma previously are now further at risk for poor mental health outcomes that may include depression, anxiety, and additional traumatic responses. Isolation can aggravate much of what we feel that we have already been struggling with and can instill a sense of hopelessness.

As health professionals, it is our duty to ensure that the underrepresented and vulnerable among us are not overlooked. What must be avoided at all cost is driving the already disadvantaged further underground, and widening pre-existing healthcare disparities.