Raising awareness for mental health during May is an annual occurrence for CenCal Health, but this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month holds particular pertinence. After the past pandemic year, more people are struggling with their mental well-being than before.
“COVID-19 has certainly had an effect on everyone: National, state, and local agencies have all documented increases in depression, anxiety, and increased use of substances and also violent behavior,” said CenCal Health Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Hord. “Certainly, mental health has been a bigger concern with the isolation and other stressors that COVID-19 has brought.”
CenCal Health highlighted results from a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center and published in March, showing how the pandemic has taken a toll on people.
“One year into the societal convulsions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, about a fifth of U.S. adults (21 percent) are experiencing high levels of psychological distress, including nearly 3 in 10 (28 percent) among those who say the outbreak has changed their lives in ‘a major way,’” the survey results said. “Concerns about both the personal health and the financial threats from the pandemic are associated with high levels of psychological distress.”
The findings additionally showed higher than average mental distress among young adults aged 18 to 29, people with lower incomes, and people who have a disability. Hord added that certain groups, like youth and elders, have been particularly affected by pandemic isolation, since school closures and being in a high-risk category forced these groups to stay home.
“When people can’t access their normal support networks or have transportation or just access to social events … then the risks go up for anxiety and social stress,” Hord said.
Pandemic-caused stressors are particularly multi-faceted, affecting every demographic in some way or another, Hord added.
“Things like the job losses, the uncertainties with where you might work, or health concerns or loss of family members, all of those things are major life stressors,” she said.
While the pandemic has by and large taken a negative toll on folks’ mental health, Hord pointed out that workplace flexibility and a general increase in awareness for mental health struggles may be one positive outcome in the long term.
“There’s more flexibility, and we can recognize that people are responsible and can work independently from home,” Hord said. “Companies are trying to encourage their employees to take their PTO [paid time off]. The idea is to use it and get refreshed and stay healthy, rather than save it up for sick days. PTO is meant to be for self-care.”
Over her decades of working in medicine, Hord said she’s witnessed a notable decrease in the stigma around mental health care.
“I think society is more open to acknowledging mental health as common and important to be identified and treated. We’ve sort of normalized it,” she said. “I don’t think that we’re completely comfortable as a society in discussing it and acknowledging when we need help, but there are signs that there’s more social support. Recommending to take a mental health day, valuing self-care, I think has been more common.”
Hord also emphasized the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, noting that psychological well-being shouldn’t be treated in a silo.
“A decline in either one can certainly be correlated with a decline in the other, meaning if your mental health is suffering, certainly we see physical health effects from that and vice versa,” she said. “Improved mental health or even addressing mental health conditions has positive impacts on blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, and particularly chronic pain conditions.”
CenCal Health is the largest health plan in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and Hord said there are resources available for both plan members and the general public seeking to take charge of their mental health.
On CenCal Health’s website, people can access HealthWise, which includes informational materials in both English and Spanish about mental health problems like depression, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety. There is a designated webpage for teens struggling with their mental well-being.
CenCal Health also recommends using findhelp.org under the Community Resources tab on its website. This resource allows people to filter results by ZIP code and price range to find the care they need.
“I think that’s one thing that also normalizes looking for help,” Hord said of providing accessible information about mental health. “If you have any symptoms, we should try to treat them, and there are resources.”
Highlight
• CARE4Paws hosted its first countywide pet food and donation drive-through event on April 24 and 25, as the community need for pet food and animal support remains elevated more than a year into the pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created extreme challenges for two- and four-legged family members alike,” according to CARE4Paws. “Across the nation, the number of pets living in poverty has increased by more than 20 percent compared to pre-COVID estimates, according to an ASCPA [American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] study.” Though the organization’s first drive-through event has passed, it’s not too late to donate: Head to care4paws.org to give a monetary gift, or check out what’s on the pet food wish list.
Staff Writer Malea Martin wrote this week’s Spotlight. Send news tips to spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 6-13, 2021.