The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health

Presentation by: Anna Moffit

Executive Director of NAMI Dane County

Discussion Objectives

1. Top concerns from community members
2. Review local and national data about the current state of mental health
3. Strategies for employers to support employees
4. Individual strategies to maintain mental health during the pandemic
5. Mental health resources in the community
6. Wrap-up with Q & A

Top Concerns in Our Community

Top Concerns in Our Community

• Many individuals report experiencing high levels of anxiety due to financial uncertainty of the pandemic. People are reporting fear and anxiety in regards to loss of employment and housing.
• Working from home, while also overseeing virtual learning for children has also created a high level of stress in many households.
• Many people, especially those with mental health conditions, have expressed heightened fear about exposure to COVID-19.
• Increased isolation from friends and family members, as well as the loss of known routines and activities, have led to feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
• Returning back to in-person workplaces.

Mental Health Data

Local data from Dane County: WSJ 2021

• Hospitalizations: 804 incidents due to alcohol consumption, 1,738 due to Opioid usage, and 1,044 due to self-inflicted harm
• 75 deaths by suicide in 2020 (60 in 2019), 127 fatal opiate overdoses in 2020 (113 in 2019)

National data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• 40% of US adults report that they are struggling with their mental health or substance use.
• 31% reported symptoms of depression or anxiety and 11% seriously considered completing suicide

Mental Health in the Workplace

Strategies for Employers

• Keep lines of communication open with employees and be empathetic. Ask if you notice someone is acting differently.
• Inform employees about safety protocols and precautions in place for return.
• Create a virtual/in person community behavioral health resource board that employees can access if needed.
• Bring in experts and individuals with lived experience to talk more about mental health to decrease the stigma. (In Our Own Voice presentation)
• Encourage employees to live a balanced work/home life with specific boundaries and allow for gradual transition back to in person work. Don’t judge others.
• Talk about your own mental health and model self-care.
• Embrace innovation and inclusiveness when possible.

​

Individual Strategies to Promote Emotional Well-being

• First and foremost, give yourself grace and accept that you will experience negative emotions at times.
• Practice “physical distancing”, rather than “social distancing”.
• Educate yourself about local resources and organizations that provide behavioral health care.
• Establish daily routines and habits that increase emotional and physical well-being. Give yourself time to re-adjust to new routines.
• If you are already impacted by a behavioral health condition, check your recovery plan and update if necessary. Do weekly check-ins with self.
• If you are struggling, reach out to a trusted person for support.

​

Quick Mental Health Breaks

Breathing Exercise

Silly Videos

Meditation

Take a Walk Outside

What do you do?

Myths about Suicide

Myths about Suicide

• Myth: If you ask someone about suicide, they are more likely to complete suicide.
• Fact: Asking someone about suicidal ideation decreases the likelihood of an attempt.
• Myth: People that complete sucide do so because they want to die.
• Fact: People complete suicide because they are trying to end the pain they are experiencing at that moment.
• Myth: There is no way to tell that someone is thinking about ending their life.
• Fact: In most cases, there are identifiable behaviors and actions taken by someone prior to a suicide attempt.

Suicide Crisis Lines

Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line Text 741741(home/start/hello)

Journey MH Crisis Hotline Call 1-608-280-2600

Solstice House Warmline Call 1-608-244-5077

Monarch Bilingual Crisis Line Call 1-888-900-4232

​

Local Mental Health Resources

NAMI Dane County 608-249-7188 (support line, groups, classes)

Dane County Health Services

Recovery Dane 608-287-0839 (provider referrals)

Navigating the Dane County Mental Health System

United Way 211 211

Dane County Behavioral Health Resource Center- www.danebhrc.org 608-267-2244

Questions?

Contact information:

Anna Moffit

Executive Director, NAMI Dane County

amoffit@namidanecounty.org

contact@namidanecounty.org

608-249-7188