Mental Health Care on the Rise Amidst COVID-19
We can’t “Cast Away” our need for mental support.
When it comes to social distancing and isolation, there’s no better picture than Tom Hanks in Cast Away. With no one by his side, his volleyball, Wilson, became his only confidant in the midst of his despair, grief, and need for human connection.
On an island completely isolated and alone, along with the uncertainty of his fate, it was Wilson that provided him the mental strength to keep pressing on.
If one word could sum up the past few months amidst this Coronavirus pandemic, it would be “uncertainty.” Uncertainty regarding finances, employment, health, and the effects of the virus itself. Combined with the increased isolation through self-quarantining and social distancing, it’s the perfect storm for mental struggles, such as grief, anxiety, and depression.
And as COVID-19 has spread and completely reoriented people’s daily lives, mental health resources have ramped up considerably - and so has the need for Wilsons.
With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, light is being shed on the many people struggling with depression and anxiety. For some, this has become a recent struggle in light of the Coronavirus fallout, yet for many, this has been an ongoing struggle for years.
Childrens’ mental health can’t no unnoticed
This is a worrying time not only for adults, but for young people as well. In fact, nearly half of Americans have stated that the Coronavirus outbreak has taken a toll on their mental health.
We know this is a time of great pressure on society and its members, specifically adults facing financial hardships due to the slowed economy. Yet although there may not be employment or financial hardships for children and teens specifically, there is a huge need for mental health services as they cope with the loss of school routines and isolated social interactions.
A global pandemic brings big emotions and big consequences – for people both big and small.
Young people are expected to manage the same severity of emotions ranging from grief, stress, depression, and anxiety, yet lack the mental and developmental capacity to process such emotions in a healthy way. So where are children supposed to turn when their support system, in many ways, has been taken away?
Children need an escape. They need listening ears who understand where they are at, and who can provide the essential tools to promote mental health in such a trying time.
In a critical time like this, it’s evident that children need a Wilson.
A global pandemic brings big emotions and big consequences – for people both big and small.
Youth and Family Counseling is our local Wilson
We were made to be heard.
We were made to be known.
We were made to bear the struggles of life together.
Youth and Family Counseling, (YFC), understands this truth. Dedicated to providing counseling and mental health assistance to both children and their families, they embrace this truth. YFC understands more than most, the impact COVID-19 has had, and will continue to have, on the mental health of our young people.
Youth and Family Counseling prides itself in being able to provide a variety of counseling services to those in need at an extremely reasonable cost through their sliding fee scale. YFC removes the burden of cost that deters so many people from seeking the help they need, and offers mental health assistance to all. Even disadvantaged and at-risk youth, who may lack the resources, can still receive care.
From children, to teenagers, to families, help is offered to assist in coping with a variety of issues.
For the past 39 years, YFC has been Wilson to many children and families. They’ve been doing the work to improve the lives of thousands of people, and continue to do so even now amidst this difficult and critical time.
YFC understands more than most, the impact COVID-19 has had, and will continue to have, on the mental health of our young people.
Changing with the times
With school closings, and children stuck at home in front of a screen, children are missing out on the crucial social development that peer groups provide. Confidence, esteem, and gratification have dropped dramatically in school aged children, as the opportunity to activate those relationships and affirmations are nil to none.
At Youth and Family Counseling, kids and adolescents in need of mental health assistance can receive the crucial help they need. And parents can rest easy knowing their child’s needs are being met without their wallets being harassed. With so many experiencing financial hardship, the monetary burden that prevents some individuals from receiving help has been reduced.
Additionally, being a referral source for public schools, YFC has been able to provide mental health assistance specifically to at-risk youth through their partnership with Communities in Schools (CIS).
Youth and Family Counseling has lost no time in transitioning to TeleHealth services to ensure individuals are receiving the quality care they need. By equipping their counselors and staff with the training required, counseling has continued with minimal interruptions.
Clients facing extreme uncertainties due to COVID-19 are still able to count on their counseling continuing.
Remote intakes and counseling sessions have resulted in gratitude from parents and guardians, as their children are able to receive the mental health assistance during such a difficult time.
Climbing the COVID-19 obstacles
Yet in a time of great pressure on society and the economy, YFC’s biggest challenge is building a diverse and stable funding base to both hire and retain exceptional staff members, while still keeping their services affordable.
Like many nonprofit agencies, YFC is continuing to operate in an environment where donors may not have as much income to give, while the demand for grant-based funding grows. At the same time, the demand for services is increasing as people cope with stress brought on by these uncharted times.
In short, there’s an increased need for services coupled with a decrease in available dollars.
Additionally, for the clientele stemming from low socioeconomic statuses, few are unable to participate in remote TeleHealth services due to lack of technology or internet access. For these clients, the ability to safely continue their therapeutic processes presents a challenge.
“My biggest pain point is not being able to reach all who we were able to serve prior to COVID-19. There are limits within the remote sessions, and there are those whose therapeutic processes have been significantly interrupted.” Anne Strong, Executive Director of YFC explains.
With their roots being at-risk and disadvantaged populations, and in light of the limitations presented through this challenging time, the need for monetary support and donations is now even more important.
An investment with a long term impact
According to a recent report from the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, it is expected that there will be an “overflow of mental illness that will inevitably emerge from this pandemic,” and YFC is doing everything in their power to invest in the mental health of our families.
The services provided through YFC are far reaching and provide a lasting impact on the wellbeing of our community and its members. Knowing you can’t take a Band-Aid approach to mental health issues, YFC provides the tools and resources necessary to ensure long term mental health for children and their families.
Like a snowball rolling downhill, unaddressed issues and patterns only grow larger when unattended to. Working through issues while they are small, is always more effective than allowing anything to fester and living with lasting results.
When children and teens receive help at an early age, they are able to embrace their childhood and simply be adolescents. In turn, they will navigate the world as adults in a much healthier, productive way, ultimately making Denton County a thriving community.
We’re all in this together
1 in 5 people will experience mental health struggles in their lifetime. Everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. Add a global pandemic on top of that, and the need for mental health support is even higher.
If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, depression or any other mental stressors, you are not alone.
Contact YFC and get the help you deserve. Let them be your Wilson.
Stay connected, and follow Youth and Family Counseling on their Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, support, and a network of people who genuinely care about helping you.
And in the words of Tom Hanks, “keep breathing, because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”