Mental health resources expand due to COVID

MT. PLEASANT - Studies show that around 53 percent of adults have seen some mental health issues due to COVID-19 and the situations surrounding it.

This has many community mental health resources and agencies seeing an increase in need for counseling and drug therapy.

Including Hillcrest Family Services, which is one of the main providers in Southeast Iowa. According to Andre Roberts-Labuhn, Southeast Division director of Hillcrest Family Services, the agency has seen an increase in people dealing with fear and anxieties about what the future brings. This is due to the uncertainty of financial, economic and health situations due to COVID-19.

'There is so much confusion and division about what is even happening, and the thoughts on how to fix it. People are struggling with mental health because they are feeling trapped and confused,” Roberts-Labuhn said.

Roberts-Labuhn attributes the increase in depressions and anxiety-like symptoms in otherwise stable people being caused by isolation and uncertainty in the country and world.

'Even people who don't have diagnosed disorders are coming out with symptoms of anxiety and depression that aren't diagnosable [with the disorders] but definitely more than they would on a normal basis,” Roberts-Labuhn said.

'I think a lot of it has to do with isolation because that's a very big issue for most. Also, because there is a fear of the economy and everything that's been affected since COVID has hit,” she added.

Even working from home and massive changes in routine can be attributed to the increase in mental health needs.

'A lot of people are still working from home and feeling like they have lost the connection to their support systems or even sometimes their job is harder because they don't have access to the office,” she said.

Roberts-Labuhn advised that if you are watching the media like a hawk and overloading yourself with news and information it can be easy to get anxious and scared about the future. To combat this she advised to put down the social media for half a day but still stay in touch with the news.

'One of the biggest things that we are talking about because of isolations is that a lot of people have spent more time watching social media or even news stations about the constant back and forth in our world today, and I think that's increasing some of the stress because they are overloading their systems with the information,” she said.

Instead of constantly scrolling Facebook, she advised to instead do some self-care or do activities that bring you positivity and joy. While still being informed and well-read.

'So that they have a balance because I think that not being able to go out to work or school or some other activities has taken the spotlight off of doing something that is about self-care. So we are reminding people that self-care is still very, very important - now so even more,” Roberts-Labuhn said.

'You do want to stay informed, you do want to be knowledgeable because you have to make plans as they develop and continue but you also have to be cognitive that you have to take care of the positivity in your life,” she added.

Hillcrest Family Services has seen an increase in counseling needs and clients due to new aspects of care that have been surprisingly well received such as telehealth visits with counselors and psychiatrists. According to Roberts-Labuhn this has increased the availability of care for many patients who otherwise wouldn't leave the house due to COVID-19.

'It has brought more people in and helped with the retention of clients because it's an option that opens availability for people with health problems that have been truly isolating in their homes,” she said.

The pandemic and the situations related to the economic crisis brought by COVID-19 has contributed to the decrease in mental health for normal people but has also exacerbated existing conditions.

Those with existing conditions are likely to see a big change in their mental health as well, and sometimes a deadly one. So if you know someone who is struggling with mental health, Roberts-Labuhn's advice is to connect them with support systems such as Hillcrest or the Iowa Crisis line.

'They really need to help get them connected to the support systems that are available: to community resources, to groups, to zooms, to therapies, to medications, to doctors. The biggest thing they can do is help make that phone call,” Roberts-Labuhn said.

PULL QUOTE

'We are reminding people that self-care is still very, very important - now so even more.”

Andre Roberts-Labuhn

Southeast Division director of Hillcrest Family Services