We were woefully unprepared for a global pandemic when COVID-19 began its spread. Few controls were in place, funds were not allocated, and governments had to scramble to try to help pick up the pieces. In many places, a state of emergency was called. Businesses closed, social distancing was on the tip of everyone’s tongue, and the economy stagnated. Since the beginning of the pandemic last March, it has been a perfect storm for a spike in mental health related struggles for millions of people.

Dr. La’Tesha is a registered clinical social worker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She is the founder and CEO of Great Joy Counselling and Consulting in Westfield, New Jersey, which offers innovative psychotherapy and life coaching services to thousands of individuals, couples, and families. Dr. La’Tesha understands the importance of good mental health and the overall wellbeing of individuals and society on a greater scale. When mental health begins to slip, particularly during times of strain such as during a global pandemic, it leaves countries at greater risk.

Surveys By the World Health Organization

On October 6^th, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the results of a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on mental, neurological, and substance use services in 130 Member States. The results show that most countries are experiencing disruption to these services. In some cases, not enough health care workers have been deployed to handle the demand. In others, facilities normally used for mental health purposes are being repurposed as quarantine and care sites for the infected. “A disproportionate number of people affected by these changes are from marginalized communities and are often those already suffering from mental health conditions,” says Dr. La’Tesha.

As many businesses have closed their doors, most of their workers have lost their source of income. For those working daily wage jobs such as in service and hospitality industries, the impact is greater. Unfortunately, the communities impacted are often lower income rather than salaried workers in office jobs. Thus, the most vulnerable in society with the most volatile sources of livelihood are of course the ones more seriously impacted by changes in the economy.

Similarly, as Dr. La’Tesha points out, those who already have need of mental health resources such as public in- and out-patient care are increasingly displaced during the pandemic as those facilities are being repurposed to handle the physically ill. To further complicate matters, mental health services are notoriously underfunded. According to the WHO’s survey, 89% of countries reported that mental health and psychological support was part of their national COVID-19 response plans. Yet, only 17% of countries surveyed said they had committed additional funding for mental health support. Sadly, for Dr. La’Tesha, this number isn’t all that surprising given the historical support of mental health and wellness in many countries, including the United States.

COVID-19 has an incubation period of 14 days. During this time, patients are often asymptomatic yet are still contagious. This is the reason for so many business closures and the national call for social distancing. “The mechanics of COVID-19 have created the perfect environment for mental health conditions to crop up and worsen,” says Dr. La’Tesha. Most social gathering places remain closed such as restaurants, movie theatres, clubs, and libraries. In combination with restricted social gatherings in private homes and public places, people are feeling more isolated and stressed than ever before.

Increase In Stress

Stress is a serious factor when it comes to physical and mental health. It can reduce the effectiveness of immune systems. During a pandemic, this is a serious concern. Overworked health care professionals can find themselves more susceptible to the virus due to increased stress and trauma on the job. This can result in fewer workers able to do their job, thus reducing an already strained supply of qualified individuals. This puts additional strain on an already taxed system and those relying upon it. Unfortunately, the stress of the situation in combination with increased pressure to perform, isolation from loved ones, and increased trauma on the job (such as losing patients, being affected by insufficient resources to save lives, and more), can result in a spike of mental health conditions on the job such as post-traumatic stress disorder. This, too, can lead to fewer health care workers able to do their jobs.

Overall, the unpreparedness of countries across the globe has resulted in emergency situations worldwide. Strain on already underfunded systems negatively impacts those relying on essential resources, particularly in the mental health sphere. Lost income, increased uncertainty, and isolation from support systems both social and medical have led to a spike in depression and anxiety among the population. For Dr. La’Tesha, there is no better time to turn at least some of our focus to supporting those suffering from mental health conditions so that we can strengthen and empower the people—the very foundation of society.