Mental Health Considerations During Coronavirus

Addressing the Other Crisis Developing During the Pandemic

WebMD recently addressed the issue of mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak and stay at home orders issued across the country. According to their publication “Mental Health an Emerging Crisis of COVID Pandemic” more and more people are experiencing “high levels of emotional distress” during these challenging times. The stress and uncertainty of the future have many concerned that a mental health crisis is developing as a result of the pandemic.

The article sites a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, which found that COVID-19 has negatively affected the mental health of over half of Americans surveyed.  There is growing concern that job loss and forced isolation could trigger high rates of suicide and substance use. The health crisis created by the coronavirus has led to a potentially longer economic crisis. Historically high unemployment rates have many people fearing that the economic toll may last long after the initial tragedy of the health care crisis.

Some of those most affected by COVID-19 related stress are the frontline health care workers. According to the Kaiser Foundation survey, 64% of frontline health care workers and their families felt that the coronavirus had a negative effect on their mental health. Some of the most commonly cited effects for all Americans include “problems with sleeping or eating, increased alcohol use, or worsening chronic conditions.”

The brewing mental health crisis comes as cities face the potential of treatment budget cuts. Many courts, however, in an effort to address mental health concerns have implemented diversion programs. Mental health diversion assists those with an underlying mental health condition who are arrested for a crime. Learn more about the diversion requirements under Penal Code Section 1001.36.