COVID-19 and Mental Health

The main battle today is to vaccinate as much of the adult population against COVID-19 in the shortest amount of time possible. Scenes of people receiving their doses of the vaccine at large sites would have many believe that the pandemic era is nearly over, but impacts of it will be felt by millions long after.

According to a Red Cross study COVID-19 has affected the mental health of about half of the world's population regardless of race, ethnicity or health status. A survey by the American Psychiatric Association found that the anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19 have affected the daily routines of 59 percent of the American population.

Across the country, Latinos have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and many have suffered the most direct blow as essential workers. Farmworkers, many of whom are Latino, have been especially affected. An American Farm Bureau poll released in December 2020 showed that 66% of farmworkers said the pandemic has affected their mental health.

One of those impacts is the psychological trauma many have endured because of isolation from their family and friends or losing a loved one. Job losses have also contributed to higher stress levels. Many Latinos lost work that can't be done remotely, and they also lost their benefits. Latino families have been evicted from their homes because they're unable to pay the rent.

According to the CDC "Hispanic adults reported a higher prevalence of psychosocial stress related to not having enough food or stable housing than did adults in other racial and ethnic groups.” The lack of contact with loved ones during the pandemic has also been difficult. "Hispanics are very familyoriented," said Paul J. Shaker, a Latino program clinician at Rushford Mental Health Center in Connecticut. Many families are going through a difficult time as grandparents see less of their children and grandchildren.

Suffering in Silence

Over 40% of Latino adults have reported symptoms of depression during the pandemic, in contrast to 25% of white non-Hispanics, the CDC reports.

The emotional distress is especially acute for Latinos who had COVID-19. The mental symptoms can be the most difficult to treat, particularly for this segment, for whom mental health is often a taboo subject. "Some clients tell me they're not going to get psychological treatment because they're 'not crazy,'" Shaker said. "There is a stigma about what people in their community are going to think if they tell others they went to a mental health center."

Only a third of Hispanics with a mental health disorder get treatment, per the Department of Health and Human Services, compared to 45% of non-Hispanics in the U.S.

Another issue is that Latinos who primarily speak Spanish may be unaware that services are available in their native language. Only 7% of licensed psychologists in the U.S. identify as Latino, according to the American Psychological Association, while even fewer, 5.5% of therapists, are able to provide services in Spanish.

With added barriers to health care, like lack of insurance or a perception of discrimination from doctors, the ordeal can intensify and bring about suicidal thoughts and other dangerous behaviors.

Finding Relief

Experts agree that if people suffer from clinical depression, they should seek professional help as soon as possible. That can include treatment with certified psychiatrists, accompanied by therapy with psychologists, antidepressant medications or specific dietary or behavior changes. Every person and every situation is different.

Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist who has been studying the effects of stress offered several tips that can help prevent and relieve symptoms of depression. They include getting morning sunlight, moving and exercising, trying to get a good night's sleep, avoiding bright lights from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., taking credit for small steps toward recovery and maintaining a feeling of gratitude.

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