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Four County reaching out during Mental Health Awareness Month

Pharos-Tribune - 5/6/2021

May 6—Ever since the pandemic hit the U.S., causing businesses to shut down, workers to get laid off, and schools to close their doors, men, women, and children have been faced with unprecedented levels of stress.

And we're nowhere near the end of the struggles.

At least, that's Four County Counseling Center Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carrie Cadwell's stance. "There is the battle of wellness, and we're still on the precipice of it."

That's why during 2021's Mental Health Awareness Month of May, she is urging people to take a look at themselves. Ask the hard questions about stress, daily living, and being faced with challenges, she said.

Because if "we can put a label on it, we can normalize it, and then each person can feel like he (or she) is not the only one," said Cadwell, explaining that the number of people seeking mental health support has drastically increased in the last 12 months.

In fact, the American Psychological Association released a report called "Stress in America," which states that people are experiencing a decline in physical health due to the inability to cope with stress. Weight gain, lack of sleep, and dependence on alcohol are all spiking.

"Nearly one in four adults reported drinking more alcohol to cope with their stress during the ... pandemic," the report stated.

But it's not just alcohol that is providing a release, according to Cadwell. Psychologists and psychiatrists are helping clients who are struggling with increases in substances abuse — specifically opioids — that oftentimes lead to death, whether intentional or not. "Overdoses and suicides are increasing."

The Census Bureau and the Kaiser Family Foundation, a polling house, have confirmed that increased depression, anxiety, distress, and low self-esteem are plaguing this nation. And each one of those concerns is leading to "higher rates of substance abuse disorder and suicide," according to findings stated in a medical article, "The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use."

In January 2021, the poll found that 41 percent of Americans were suffering from anxiety or depression. Similarly, data indicated that "drug overdose deaths were particularly pronounced from March to May 2020, coinciding with the start of the pandemic-related lockdowns."

Even though the majority of states have begun to resume "normal" functions and vaccines have been making headway on halting the spread in many locations, Cadwell said that "people may see a light at the end of the tunnel, but it's not going to instantly turn the numbers around."

Just Wednesday, Cass County bounced back to yellow, meaning there has been an approximate 6 percent increase in positive cases, based upon data provided by the Indiana State Department of Health. There are four rankings: blue, yellow, orange, and red, with blue being the lowest and red the highest in terms of numbers of COVID-19 cases.

As long as these numbers continue to fluctuate, people will remain in a state of flux.

ISOLATION AND REMOTE WORK

"We are hard-wired for connection," said Cadwell.

When working from home, she said people are secluded and left to their own devices. Some people may function well in that environment, possibly even thrive, but most people desire social interaction on a regular basis.

"There is an emotional distress in loneliness, which means that employers have to get creative and think of ways to still engage their employees," she said, citing one example as a hybrid model. Requiring workers to put in half of their time in the office with the other half at home may balance connectedness.

"It's critical that we pay attention to everything in our surroundings and that we help people who may be isolated," said Cadwell.

YOUNGER GENERATIONS

Students may be impacted the most by the changes in their everyday lives, said Cadwell. "We want them to have as much engagement as possible, but they've been constantly disrupted."

One moment, school is closed; the next, students are back in classrooms.

Then, college-bound students don't know whether or not the university they've chosen will hold in-class or virtual lessons. "They hope to have a great experience," Cadwell said, "but here they are, unsure what lies ahead. They have all of these new challenges to face."

And some may be so stressed by the unknowns, that they will opt to stay close to home. "Community college enrollment may increase," she said.

FUNCTIONAL IMPACTS

Whether a person resides in a nursing home or lives in an apartment complex, "everyone is dealing with daily issues," said Cadwell.

One in four adults is drinking alcohol more often, 35 percent of the population reports not getting enough sleep, and the percentage of people claiming to be living with a mental health disorder has jumped from 9 percent pre-pandemic to 25 percent since the pandemic started, according to the American Psychological Association.

Even though people have ways to stay in touch — social media, phones, Zoom — "people aren't getting out into the world. That re-entry anxiety exists," said Cadwell. "So we all need to acknowledge our experiences, stay connected and offer support, and reach out to those nearby or far away. These steps will provide profound help."

Reach Kristi Hileman at kristi.hileman@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5150

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