By Sandra J. Charite
So, when asked in 2020, “how are you doing?” A simple “I’m fine” was not enough for me. I found myself saying, “day by day” or almost giving a whole paragraph answer. Yes, I am a Christian and I trust God, but 2020 was a lot to handle.
And, like many, I was not okay.
There were many things thrown in our direction, a global pandemic, racial tension, presidential election, police-involved shootings, high unemployment rate and deaths from Covid-19. Working from home and virtual schooling became the norm, while businesses and churches faced having to close their doors. We all needed a release, a loud scream. Social distancing and quarantine didn’t help alleviate the loneliness that most of us were feeling. In addition, 2020 impacted the mental health of millions and it so important that we are honest and able to tell people when we are not mentally okay.
In the past year, we found ourselves doing a lot of checking in with our friends and loved ones. Social distancing kept us physically separated and prevented social gatherings. Technology led to more connections than ever and so video calls became a creative way of connecting. But we learned early on in the pandemic that phone calls and text messages weren’t enough. Not everyone embraced this new normal, especially some extroverts, that group of outgoing and overtly expressive people. The pandemic isolated many who were unable to socialize with peers or cope with the changes of 2020. This isolation caused depression and other related mental health issues to rise.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in the last year more than 40 percent of American adults reported struggling with one or more mental health condition. These included anxiety and depression, trauma or stressor-related disorder, substance abuse, and serious suicidal ideation —due to the pandemic. Anxiety, fear, and depression increased as people tested positive for covid and had to be quarantined. Persons lost loved ones due to the virus or experienced unemployment, financial insecurity, and other hardships. Many felt a loss of control and a sense of uncertainty as they failed to embrace this new normal. Last June, reports showed that mental health conditions increased compared to previous years. Anxiety was three times higher, and depression four times higher than the second quarter of 2019. Also, those reporting suicidal thoughts rose within the past year.
It’s important to take care of our mental health. Our mental health determines our physical health, social interactions, professional relationships/occupations, and our life choices. Sadly, it’s not unusual to see many people display some level of anxiety during this unprecedented pandemic that comes with isolation, quarantine, and a change to everyone’s norm. Surprisingly, many believed that when the clock struck midnight, then everything would go back to normal. Things would be different in 2021. Yes, we have a new president in our country, Americans are going back to work, more people are traveling, and the coronavirus vaccine is now available to more people. Businesses are getting back on their feet; churches are reopening and the unemployment rate is declining, but, we are still in recovery mode from 2020.
No matter where you are in this season, it is important for you to be honest about your mental health. We all communicate and handle situations differently but, in some way, we have to let the people we love know when things are not good. Now that many of the restrictions have been lifted by the CDC, we have more access to social interactions. I have found that taking a walk, writing in my journal, participating in an activity or new project have been healthy ways to alleviate stress from everything that has been going on in this world. One thing to note is that being honest about your mental health does not make you weak. Your mental health matters.
