How has COVID affected you in this past year? For some of you, you have contracted the virus. Did you have to be hospitalized, did / do you have post-COVID issues? Have you had a wedding, a graduation or a funeral impacted? What about a yearly family gathering? The holidays? Did you have to give birth without a doula because only one support person was allowed? Have you not been able to participate in social groups, meet-ups, church? Hey, are you even "zoomed" out? How has your work changed? Your social life? Have you had a high risk job where you have protected your family by practicing quarantine?
What is beginning to be discussed now are the mental health issues that have come up since COVID. The CDC offers this information in regards to substance abuse and suicidal ideation
"During June 24–30, 2020, U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19. Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation."
This is some scary stuff? Has it affected you or your family?
What about online schooling, especially when it intersects with work? Look at this quote:
"The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming the functioning and outcomes of education systems—some of which were already stressed in many respects. This is true across the world and affects all children, though to differing degrees depending on multiple factors—including the country/region where they live, as well as their ages, family backgrounds, and degree of access to some “substitute” educational opportunities during the pandemic. In early spring as the pandemic was hitting its first peak, the virus consigned nearly all of over 55 million U.S. school children under the age of 18 to staying in their homes, with 1.4 billion out of school or child care across the globe (NCES 2019a; U.S. Census Bureau 2019; Cluver et al. 2020). Not only did these children lack daily access to school and the basic supports schools provide for many students, but they also lost out on group activities, team sports, and recreational options such as pools and playgrounds."
Hey, this is some serious stuff that has happened in the past year. If you find yourself struggling, as a parent juggling virtual school and/or work, feeling socially isolated, grief, long-term physical issues, please consider reaching out for help.
Use our "Contact Us" form for more information. You don't have to go through this alone! You are not alone in how difficult this year has been; how it has brought out the best in you and the worst.
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