Mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse are on the rise in Arizona and throughout the United States. According to a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in April, roughly half (45%) of Americans reported that the pandemic is negatively impacting their mental health. David Sbarra, a University of Arizona psychologist, answered questions on how the pandemic may be impacting mental health. Visit this link for more information. 

A pandemic presents us all with many unknowns and uncertainty. Further, isolation, trauma, and other stressors (e.g., financial) associated with the COVID-19 pandemic can be harmful to mental health and overall wellbeing.  Prioritizing mental health is always important, but is especially crucial under the current circumstances with many people experiencing grief at the loss of community, employment, or other significant life changes. Remember to check on yourself, your family, and friends as we all try to navigate these unprecedented times together. 

It is important to remember that stress due to the pandemic continues to affect people in different ways and to varying degrees. Groups that are more vulnerable to stress during a crisis include: 

• Essential workers (including frontline health workers)
• Children and young adults
• Those belonging to certain racial and ethnic minority groups
• People with existing mental health conditions or substance use disorders 
• People with underlying medical conditions
• Socially isolated individuals (including those who live alone)
• Individuals with disabilities
• Those experiencing changes in employment
• People experiencing homelessness
• Individuals living in group settings
• People lacking access to information in their primary language
• Those without access to healthcare or health services

Be sure to also watch for mental health warning signs in yourself and others. These can include excessive worrying or fear, feeling sad or low, and recent changes in habits or behaviors (sleeping, eating, socializing, mood). For more mental health warning signs, please visit this link.

Below are resources for addressing mental health concerns:

• If you feel that you or another person is in immediate danger because of their mental distress, call 911. 
• In March, Arizona launched a 2-1-1 hotline to provide statewide COVID-19 counseling.