Help reduce isolation during the pandemic

Currently, we are faced with unprecedented disruptions to our lives and many people are feeling the negative effects of isolation and uncertainty. Many have been out of work for several weeks, some therapists and other health care providers have moved to telehealth, and we are bombarded daily by the news about infection and mortality rates. Montana’s rates have been relatively low, but people are still concerned. Calls to mental health crisis lines in Montana more than doubled in the weeks following the governor’s stay-at-home order in March and continue to be higher than normal. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and now, more than nearly any other time in recent history, we should be focusing on our mental health and the mental health of others.

One of the cornerstones of recovery from behavioral health issues, which includes both mental health and substance use, is connection to others. Isolation can increase substance use and can be detrimental to mental health, even for those who are generally well or who have not experienced a mental health crisis before. Most of us are social beings — we want to be around other people and there is an even greater need for social supports in times of crisis.

We often hear that people who are in crisis should reach out for help, but putting the responsibility on the person who is struggling is not enough. Someone who is feeling overwhelmed may not be able to take that step. Someone who already feels he is a burden to his family and friends is unlikely to ask for help. The signs of behavioral health issues are more likely to be missed while we are isolated from each other. We must all be proactive.

Check in with your friends and family regularly and don’t stop trying. Ask them about how they are feeling both physically and mentally. Ask them how they are sleeping and eating, about their substance use, and what they are doing to stay well. If you think someone may be contemplating suicide or self-harm, be direct and ask them about it. Behavioral health issues need to be treated with the same attention as physical health issues. Think about what you would do for someone with cancer or another serious health condition and apply that same energy to those with behavioral health conditions as well.

Support and crisis lines are not just for those who are struggling, they are also available for those concerned about others. There are phone, text and chat options available. You can find out more at http://hillcountylac.com .

If you’d like to learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide, know how to offer hope, and how to get help and save a life contact Amber Spring at [email protected] to register for a QPR workshop. The next webinar is scheduled for Friday, May 29, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

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Andi Daniel

Hill County Local Advisory Council chair