Mental Health America reported that in September 2020, depression and anxiety hit an all-time high. Mental health has been known to take a back-seat to physical health despite the staggering statistics. Luckily, the pandemic has made doctors more aware of the link between physical health and mental health in the anxiety people have felt in contracting the virus and those who have survived.
Mental Health Issues as a Result of COVID-19
According to research published in the journal Lancet, 20% of people who contracted COVID-19 met the criteria of a mental illness like anxiety or depression within three months of diagnosis. There have also been other long-term mental health symptoms like having trouble concentrating, memory issues, dizziness, insomnia, and loss of taste/smell.
The Problem with Doctors and Mental Health During the Pandemic
In the Survivors Corps Facebook group, people who have had COVID have complained about being ignored or told by doctors that their problems are “in their head.” Mental health has long been believed to be less important than physical health. With the healthcare system being overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, it seems like mental health concerns are taking a backseat. Even before the pandemic, there were not enough psychiatrists in many areas. It also used to be that people had their mental health benefits connected to their jobs. Unfortunately, the pandemic has left a lot of people unemployed. Even if you still have your job, it is still a challenge to find a therapist who is on your plan or a lot of experts not taking insurance because of how little the insurance company reimburses them.
What is Being Done About It?
Post-COVID care centers have been popping up around the country, with many of them including a mental health component. According to a survey in Triduum, more than 80% of behavioral health providers started using telehealth for the first time during the pandemic, making mental health care more accessible for everybody. Last October, the American Medical Association and several other groups created the Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Collaborative to offer resources for primary care doctors to fit mental health into their practices. Mental health concerns need to be a priority for progress to be made.
When you have millions of people contracting the COVID-19 virus, it seems like mental health is less of a priority in the medical community. The truth is that mental illnesses end up being a side effect of contracting COVID. Those without it worry about contracting it or grieves the losses of the pandemic. At Alta Loma, we understand how hard this time has been for you. Our transformative treatment center in Georgetown, Texas, can provide you with tools like individualized therapy, medication management, therapeutic recreational activities, life coping skills education, and more. Please call (866) 457-3843 to learn more.
