Assistance available to help cope with pandemic’s mental disruptions

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Staying home from work and school, avoiding human contact, taking hygienic precautions and keeping informed about the latest news and information about the COVID-19 pandemic can take a mental and emotional toll.

So can the sudden disruption of long-established routines.

Bob Lincoln, chief executive officer at County Social Services, whose office is in Charles City, said that all CSS centers have been beefing up their capacity to provide tele-mental health, via Facebook video-conferencing and other online media.

“Our team is trying to increase the number of contacts even though we can’t do it face to face,” Lincoln said. “We want to have more frequent contact, to give people the sense that they’re remaining connected.”

CSS is a consortium of 21 Iowa counties to provide financial support for mental health and disability services to individuals in North Central and Northeast Iowa.

“We have been building our capacity to work remotely,” Lincoln said. “We’ve always done a lot of telecommuting, and we have a lot of our staff working from home. They have the cell phones and laptops and they’re able to do that pretty seamlessly.”

Lincoln said there is research to support the idea that virtual mental health visits are effective, in many cases as effective as in-person visits. He said psychologists, nurse practitioners and psychiatrists are available. CSS works directly with rural hospitals and community mental health centers.

“We hope that if people are feeling the need to reach out, we hope they will do that, knowing there’s financial support for them to do that at no cost,” Lincoln said.

Lincoln said that with the initial onset of COVID-19 protocols, CSS saw a decline in requests for services, as people were staying away from hospitals and there was reduced access. He said CSS is anticipating an increase in need as the crisis continues.

“What we find in any crisis is how resilient individuals and communities are,” Lincoln said. “People are more intentional about reaching out and taking care of each other. Churches reach out, volunteer organizations, that is blunting a lot of the need. That’s a great thing to see.”

“We’re learning more every day and building up more capacity to respond better and keep people safe,” Lincoln said. “It’s very hopeful looking forward.”

The Charles City Community School District also offers counselors and a social worker for students and families in the district, available via email or virtually through the use of Google Hangouts.

“The health, safety and well-being of all students and families is our first priority,” the district states on its website. “We are connected, we are here for you and we are only an email or virtual meeting away.”

The district said its goal is to provide as many resources and services as possible to meet the social and emotional needs of every child and family.

There is a document on the website which provides ongoing updates about resources and tools to assist both parents and students in meeting a variety of needs, and includes a “Connect with a Counselor or Social Worker” form.

The document also contains a long list of specific guidelines as to how to communicate with children during the shutdown.

“Children will notice and respond to your verbal and nonverbal reactions,” the document reads. “What you say and do about COVID-19, current prevention efforts, and related events can either increase or decrease your child’s anxiety.”

“Social distancing can be hard on all of us,” said Amanda Carolan, nurse practitioner at MercyOne Medical Center in New Hampton. “While we’re doing it to keep our health and the health of others the best as it can be, it can be quite hard on our mental health.”

“Be sure to keep a regular routine if you can. I know that’s hard for people who are working from home and have young children at home,” she said. “Try to get enough sleep, and get outside and exercise as much as possible.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its website that it’s natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster.

“Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time,” the CDC states. “Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.”

The CDC recommends several steps to cope with a situation such as COVID-19.

They include taking care of your body through well-balanced meals, exercise and plenty of sleep; sharing concerns and connecting with others to maintain healthy relationships and support; taking breaks to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade; staying informed through reliable sources while avoiding too much exposure to news; and seeking help when needed.

Common signs of distress, according to the CDC, include feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear; changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels; difficulty concentrating and sleeping; and headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.

Other symptoms of anxiety include a worsening of chronic health problems, feeling angry or short-tempered and an increase in the use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

The CDC states that anyone who experiences these feelings or behaviors for several days in a row, and is unable to carry out normal responsibilities because of them, should seek professional help.