October 10, 2021 by Natalie Cochran
World Mental Health Awareness Day: How the Pandemic is Affecting Mental Health
Each year, on October 10, individuals and organizations join the global movement to raise awareness about mental health. Since the Covid-19 pandemic emerged, mental health conditions have been rising across all demographics. By raising awareness, we can fight the stigma, provide support, and educate the public.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the nation has witnessed a significant increase in adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression. The impact the pandemic has had on mental health has been devastating, causing suicide to be the second leading cause of death among teenagers.
The pandemic has been pushing mental health to its breaking point. It all started back when people were forced into lockdown and isolation from friends and family. As restrictions loosened, some people were still reluctant to be around others, causing those to develop depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Even long after the pandemic is over, mental illness will linger.
Studies show that young people are most vulnerable to psychological distress compared to older people because their needs for social interactions are stronger. Healthcare workers, frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions have been particularly affected. Women are also more likely than men to suffer from domestic violence issues due to the pandemic, which causes depression, extreme fear and trauma.
If you or someone you know need assistance, you can apply for free legal services by calling 1-800-733-8394 or visiting our website at www.lonestarlegal.org. For more resources, visit the Texas Crime Victim Legal Assistance Network.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves the millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at https://www.lonestarlegal.org.
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