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When could the mental health strain from the COVID-19 pandemic be the worst?

Bellingham Herald - 8/25/2020

Aug. 25--Washington state residents' mental health struggles because of the COVID-19 pandemic could peak in the fall, when the number of people with the respiratory illness could increase as more go indoors, according to a state report released on Monday, Aug. 24.

"Heading into the fall months of 2020, the behavioral health outcomes from COVID-19 for most people are related to experiences of social isolation, fears of the unknowns around further restrictions and economic losses, and stress and pressure related to the balance of childcare and work," states the Washington State Department of Health report, which delves into potential impacts statewide.

Trends suggest that depression is the primary issue in the state, for now.

"This may change dramatically if there is a drastic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in September and October. In that case, increased symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to fears of illness or death from the virus will likely result," the report states.

The behavioral health struggles will vary.

They are being felt more by certain groups, including ethnic and racial minorities, as well as essential workers and those of lower socioeconomic status, the state says.

It's the ongoing nature of the public health emergency and its fallout that is expected to be hard for residents, according to the report, which notes that "... it is anticipated that rates of depression are likely to be much higher (potentially 30 -- 60% of the general population, which is equivalent to 2.25 million to 4.5 million people in Washington) due to the chronic and ongoing social and economic disruption in people's lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"This is a much higher rate than typical after a natural disaster where there is a single impact point in time," the report states.

The report also projected impacts on children and adults during the new coronavirus will include acting out, abuse, suicide and substance use.

Noting that rates of suicide and drug overdoses are both "highly influenced by unemployment," the report states that a 1% increase in the unemployment rate could mean a 1.6% increase in the suicide rate and an increase of one drug overdose death per 300,000 people.

The unemployment rate in the state was 9.8% in June -- 5.5 percentage points more than June last year.

If that rate stays, it could mean 108 more deaths annually by suicide and an additional 140 deaths a year from drug overdose in the state, the report states.

In Washington, about 1,231 people kill themselves a year, according to the report, while 1,173 people die from drug overdoses annually.

As for when life will feel like it once did pre-pandemic, that will depend.

"An eventual return to baseline levels of functioning for many people should occur around 14 months after the initial outbreak," the report says. "This is assuming that the rates of infection do not continue to significantly increase and that a sense of the new normal is underway."

Help line

Need help dealing with your stress during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Call the Washington Listens support line at 833-681-0211. Its hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

TTY and language-access services are available by using 7-1-1 or your preferred method.

The service is non-clinical, free and anonymous. However, it is not a crisis line to access behavioral health services.

More resources and self-help tips are at walistens.org.

If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day.

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(c)2020 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)

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