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During the initial peak of COVID-19, our world scrambled to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to our doctors and nurses on the frontlines. Medical providers around the world were stepping into the role of “unsung hero” as they worked in the trenches day in and day out, trying to save lives and keep our world afloat. Medical staff worked long hours and took the brunt of the mental and physical burnout associated with COVID-19. It is no surprise that months later, their mental health is jeopardized. Trauma, depression, stress, and anxiety can build up over time, festering, until one day, they can no longer be contained underneath the surface.
The mental health crisis: the second wave of COVID-19
As our country begins to open up, and people learn to adapt to new regulations associated with social distancing and face coverings, we are beginning to see a new, silent pandemic, a mental health crisis. Millions of people are still out of work; isolation, loneliness, increased alcohol use, and school closures all have people stressed and worried. Depression, anxiety, child abuse, domestic partner violence, and alcohol abuse are on the rise.
We are now calling on mental health workers to guide us through this silent pandemic, but mental health workers also experience burnout and mental crises of their own. Therapists, social workers, and psychiatrists have all been called in to help frontline medical workers overcome the emotional and psychological scars they endured while working in the trenches of COVID-19, but who is going to protect the mental health workers when they need help?
Nobody is immune to the pandemic’s adverse mental health effects
Everyone is affected by COVID-19 in one way or another. Some are affected financially; others are affected physically as their health declined, or they lost loved ones, whereas many are affected mentally and emotionally. The pandemic could be detrimental for those already facing complicated mental health disorders, such as chronic anxiety, trauma, delusional paranoia, and substance use disorders. There are many individuals without the cognitive ability to comprehend the situation. Some individuals with traumatic brain injuries or dementia are without a working memory. Young children most likely do not understand why they cannot socialize with their friends or attend school.
Will the mental health system break down?
Many mental health workers are transitioning to teletherapy, a virtual therapy approach where clients can seek the help they need from the comfort of their homes. However, even with the increase in teletherapy access, many mental health professionals struggle to provide adequate care to their clients. Some clients require 24/7 care in residential settings, and even with trying to practice social distancing and adhering to the COVID-19 rules, it can be nearly impossible to isolate acute clients who require care.
- What happens when mental health professionals experience pandemic burnout?
- What happens when mental health professionals test positive for COVID-19?
- What happens when mental health professionals are laid off or furloughed?
Virtual therapy saves lives
Mental health professionals are the last lifelines to help save and protect our society. Mental health professionals must take care of themselves emotionally, mentally, and physically to help guide us through this silent pandemic. As a society, we must learn to come to understand this and to take the proper measures to invest in our own mental health.
Virtual therapy, also known as teletherapy, has been a sustainable and safe way to provide outpatient treatment for individuals struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder. Teletherapy is not only as effective as in-person therapy, but it protects both the client and the therapist during COVID-19.
To find a therapist, please visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
