IT’S RESOLUTION SEASON.
Every year at this time, we resolve to implement positive lifestyle changes that will make us healthier physically—shedding extra pounds, exercising more, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, etc. These are all laudable goals worth pursuing, and given the stressors many people have faced during the COVID pandemic, perhaps 2022 should be the year we decide to make changes that will positively impact not just our physical health, but also our mental health and overall sense of well-being.
Of course, it’s important to understand that physical health and mental health aren’t discrete concepts. As Mercy Health clinical psychologist Aimee Drescher, PhD, explains, “Physical health affects mental health and vice versa. The two are tightly intertwined. For example, there’s a strong connection between depression and anxiety and how we feel physically. Oftentimes, stress is ‘carried in the tummy,’ causing gastrointestinal symptoms. We also commonly see people referred from emergency medicine who have experienced a panic attack that was mistaken for a heart attack.”
Dr. Drescher notes that the ongoing COVID pandemic has led to a significant increase in anxiety and depression. The most recent statistics reveal that anxiety was three times more common in 2020 than in 2019, and depressive disorder was four times more common. Also, in 2020, one in 10 individuals surveyed reported an increase in substance use. With children especially, providers are seeing mental health diagnoses that probably would not have occurred absent the pandemic—and as it goes on and on, more and more children are needing help.
Among the hardest hit during the pandemic from the standpoint of mental health were healthcare professionals. “In 2020, 43% of doctors and 33% of nurses reported experiencing burnout, and those numbers are probably underreported. I see a lot of doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals who are experiencing a significant increase in anxiety and depression, especially those who are working directly with COVID patients. It’s noteworthy that many healthcare providers, whose jobs are to take care of people, are also facing these challenges and are less likely to reach out for help,” Dr. Drescher says.
Also especially hard hit were students—adolescents and young adults who were kept out of the classroom, isolated, and prevented from socializing normally—along with teachers and other school staff, essential workers, and people who lost their employment due to the pandemic. The impact on teachers was so severe that, according to a meta-analysis of studies published during the pandemic, 17% of teachers reported they were experiencing anxiety, 19% reported they were experiencing depression, and 30% reported an increase in overall stress. In fact, the pressure of trying to teach under the circumstances imposed by the pandemic weighed so heavily that one in four teachers said they would leave their job by the end of the year.
Even more concerning, the rate of reported suicides in 2020 was twice that of 2018. For members of the LGBTQ teen and young adult community, the rate of attempted suicide was four times higher. That year also saw a shift in risk factors, with the at-risk population skewing significantly younger than before. Whereas middle-aged white men were once at highest risk, people in the 18- to 24-year-old range are now more likely to attempt suicide, with racial and ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid caregivers at highest risk.
Feelings of anxiety or depression can be a natural reaction to stressors and challenging events, but they are a cause for concern if they become persistent or recurring and begin to affect the individual’s relationships, work performance, or ability to manage daily life.
According to Dr. Drescher, some of the common mood disorder warning signs to watch for in oneself or others include changes in activity level, changes in the ability to perform activities of daily living such as bathing and grooming, isolating from others, having difficulty functioning to full potential at work, changes in eating habits or sleep patterns, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, and difficulty concentrating. Dr. Drescher adds, “Kids who may be experiencing anxiety or depression often lose interest in activities they usually enjoy, isolate themselves in their room more frequently, stop communicating with parents and peers, and may experience a sudden drop in grades or perform poorly in school.”
Dr. Drescher emphasizes that good mental health isn’t a destination but an ongoing, evolving journey. Also, each of us has emotions and some predisposition to mood challenges or anxiety, however small, that is normally very manageable but can become unmanageable under certain circumstances, such as the pandemic. For that reason, she believes we can all benefit from a little therapy or at least a consultation with a mental-health professional to assess where we are.
With respect to preventing mood disorders, Dr. Drescher recommends that people routinely assess the stressors in their life, what’s going on with their body, and what they’re doing in terms of self-care in order to keep themselves healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually. “Selfcare can be many different things depending on the individual, but engaging in it regularly not only helps boost mood but also improves physical health in turn. Something as simple as calling a friend or using a relaxation app can make a major difference in your stress level. Many of these apps are available for smartphones. It’s also important to build exercise into your life and to make sure you’re eating and sleeping well. But if these steps aren’t working, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help, even if just to bounce your thoughts and feelings off an objective person,” she says.
