Mental health problems run in my family. Both my parents and all five aunts on my mom’s side were alcoholics. So was Uncle Glen and my grandfather. Both of my sisters suffered depression and my step-brother died of a heroin overdose. One grandchild committed suicide, and a sister and a daughter had bi-polar disorder. Since I have taught psychology for twenty years at the college level, and have been a licensed psychotherapist, my interest remains strong.
In an article “Diseases of iIolation” by Adam Piore (Newsweek, ) he writes:
“Mental health experts are now bracing for what Insel calls a “mental health tsunami.” They’re anticipating a steep rise in the diseases of isolation—suicides, opioid abuse, domestic violence and depression—that will unfold over the next few months and could stretch on for years.
The plague is not only fueling these mental health problems. The same economic collapse that is putting people out of work is also eroding the ability of society to deal with the crisis. In particular peril are the federally-funded mental-health clinics that treat millions of the poorest and sickest. Two months into a crisis that could last years, they are already on the edge of failure.
Casualties from the mental-health problems are expected to rival the pandemic itself. Deaths from drug overdoses and suicide totaled about 110,000 a year before COVID-19 struck. Historically, each five percent increase in the unemployment rate leads to about 3,000 additional suicides and 4,800 overdose deaths, says Insel. That means an unemployment rate of 20 percent would cause an additional 20,000 deaths”.
Since this pandemic started, Domestic hotlines have received 5,000 calls and since 2000 suicides had already risen by risen by 33%. More than 50 % of people who need mental health treatment are turning to drugs or alcohol instead.
Today, mental health services are in a financial shortage with 90 % cutting back on services and 30% turning people away, according to the National Council for Behavioral Health.
Congress, State, and federal agencies need to sharply increase funding.
