Following a year of drastic changes and isolation, the mental health of all community members — children, teenagers, adults and elders — has been affected in some form. After living through a pandemic for over a year, it’s important to reflect on how you and your family’s mental health might have been impacted.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Prowers Medical Center healthcare providers are emphasizing the importance of checking in on personal mental health and the mental health of loved ones. Mental health can affect physical health, increasing the risk for stroke, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

COVID-19 and Mental Health

More than 50 percent of individuals in the U.S. will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and this number is reflective of life pre-pandemic. The pandemic added stressors, increased loneliness and isolation, and forced many people to change the way they live their lives.

A study by the CDC shows that from August 2020 to February 2021, the percentage of adults with anxiety or depressive disorder increased from 36.4 percent to 41.5 percent. Similarly, adults who reported an unmet mental healthcare need increased from 9.2 percent to 11.7 percent. The largest increases were among adults between 18 and 29 years old.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on national health issues, about 4 in 10 adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression during the COVID-19 pandemic — up from the pre-pandemic 1 in 10 adults. Other reported negative impacts on mental health related to the pandemic include difficulty sleeping or eating, lack of concentration or energy, increase in alcohol consumption or substance use, formation of poor eating habits and worsening of other chronic conditions due to increased stress and worry over the coronavirus.

Tips for a Healthy Mind

Although there will be long-term mental health effects post-pandemic, such as social anxiety or fear of crowds, there are a few habits you can form and tasks to practice when prioritizing your mental health, including:

  • Give yourself some time to heal at your own pace. The pandemic resulted in various forms of loss, including loss of a loved one or job, which is why it’s important not to compare your experience to others’.
  • Know you are not alone. Everyone, including yourself, has been through a historic, traumatic experience.
  • Think about what you want your life to look like moving forward. Life is different than it was before the pandemic. Take the steps necessary to create your “new normal.”
  • Practice mindfulness. Create a list of things you’re grateful for, meditate, prioritize sleep, eat healthier and exercise. Occasionally go offline to give your mind a break. Be sensitive about others’ personal boundaries.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People recover at different speeds — and that’s OK. Talk about how you feel with someone you trust or a therapist.

Our providers at Prowers Medical Center can connect you with resources you need to get through post-pandemic life. For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to prowersmedical.com/services/clinic or call 719-336-6767.