Health |

Young adults, people of color and unpaid caregivers face increased mental health risks 6 months into pandemic

Nearly six months after Illinois shut down, how is our mental health?

Not great, in a nutshell.

As many Americans know, the coronavirus brought with it many additional stressors. Job insecurity. Child care crises. School closings. Health fears and constant second-guessing of tasks that used to feel routine, which can contribute to a feeling of decision fatigue.

The stress is beginning to show. Findings released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in August show that Americans are facing increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. Nearly half — 41 percent — reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including a trauma- and stressor-related disorder or substance use.

When people feel something is temporary or short-term, said Shannon Gritzenbach, a psychiatrist at Advocate Medical Group, coping can be easier.

But the uncertainty with the COVID-19 disruption creates challenges.

“I think it’s the persistent nature of all of these stressors that are going on, not just with COVID but with our society,” she said. “Many of us can mount a good coping strategy and coping response to acute stressors, but when these stressors become chronic, it wears down even the best of us.”

Younger adults, people of color, essential workers and unpaid caregivers reported worse mental health, according to the CDC, which suggested increasing prevention efforts that prioritize these groups.

Essential workers

Doctors, nurses and other hospital workers face extra stress and anxiety as they treat patients with the virus and worry about bringing it back to their own families.

In April, a group that Chicago psychologist Saloumeh Bozorgzadeh works with began collecting iPads, loading them with meditation videos and breathing exercises, and donating them to hospitals. Since then, the group, Caring For Our Caregivers, donated 166 iPads to hospitals in 26 states and four countries. They are still collecting money to donate more, she said.

Bozorgzadeh has wrestled with not getting too stir-crazy at home and creating a separation between her experiences and her clients’ experiences, which include nurses who are sharing situations from their work and home life, including fears of getting sick themselves.

Hospital workers might need help this fall, as things slow down. Until now, it has been “crisis mode,” she said. “Adrenaline is pumping and people are just go, go, go. … Now is when they feel the impact.”

People of color

The months since COVID-19 arrived in the United States have been especially fraught for Black and Latino communities, who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

The CDC noted, “Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.” This vulnerability to the virus parallels how people of color are more impacted by other diseases as well, from sickle cell anemia to diabetes.

Brandi Jackson, a psychiatrist at Rush University Medical Center, told the Tribune that Black mental health patients have been hit hard. She has noticed an uptick in anxiety and depression in her primarily Black clientele, she said.

Meanwhile, the added stress of seeing national news stories about police brutality and health disparities adds anxiety. “We were already at a breaking point, but the recent police violence is just an extra reminder of what we always knew to be present and has never gone away,” Jackson told the Tribune.

Children and young adults

Young people, who have been stuck at home or with limited social engagement for months, also are experiencing mental health challenges. Among young adults 18 to 24, three-fourths reported having at least one mental or behavioral health symptom, according to the CDC data.

John Walkup, head of the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children’s Hospital, often talks to parents worried about their children during the pandemic. He said this time may highlight children who have untreated mental health struggles.

“That group of kids are particularly vulnerable during this time because you’ve added an additional level of uncertainty to their lives,” she said.

It’s understandable that many might have a high level of demoralization or anxiety right now, he said, because families are dealing with a lot. Parents of this generation of children, he added, try hard to smooth paths for their children, and now find themselves unable to do much.

“They can’t fix this,” he said. “There’s no amount of money or shrewdness or brains that can put their kids in a different spot.”

Kids benefit from a regular bedtime and a structured daily routine; even older kids should have a routine. “That restores a sense of predictability and is the thing that addresses fear and worry,” he said. “For kids, having a predictable life experience really is important.”

Unpaid caregivers

Another group highlighted by the CDC as at risk for mental health issues is caregivers. Many are facing situations like limited visiting options or choosing to bring family members home from senior facilities. All of these decisions are hard ones to make; often, no choice feels like the best choice.

The CDC noted that many are caring for relatives who are more at risk should they contract COVID-19; in some cases people are juggling both children and an older parent.

Mental Health America created an assessment tool for family caregivers to identify issues like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The group’s tips include staying in touch with friends, family and people who you rely on for support, or finding an online group or forum.

What can help

Therapists are finding new ways to reach people, especially as the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated the situation for people with pre-existing mental health conditions, another group the CDC said was disproportionately affected.

For many, the things that improved wellness and mood — taking walks outside, being able to more safely create social outings in an outdoor environment — might change with the weather.

“We’re just going to need to shift our mindset and think of creative ways that we can still interact with people,” Gritzenbach said. Think of things like volunteering with a place like Meals on Wheels America, which can involve interaction at a safe distance and positive feelings from helping.

Gritzenbach also suggests getting outside for 30 minutes of exercise. Practicing mindfulness or meditation can also help calm thoughts. Try to find ways of socializing, such as taking an exercise class over Zoom with a friend.

As far as seasonal woes, items like light boxes can help head off seasonal depression.

And remember that telehealth and options like Chicago Connects, which link people to a variety of resources, exist to help. “Care is very accessible,” Gritzenbach said.

abowen@chicagotribune.com