Whether the disruptions, confusion and stress of COVID’s early days feel like a lifetime ago or just yesterday, there’s no question that life has changed considerably since lockdown turned daily routines upside down. It’s a lasting effect that mental health professionals and advocates alike have become all too familiar with.
One of the lingering legacies left in its wake is a changing—and increasingly more positive—attitude toward proactively improved mental wellness. And while it is a promising indication that the stigma around one’s mental health is slowly eroding, there is still a tendency for some to assume that a therapist, psychologist or other well-trained professional can quickly “fix” them or that one needs to reach their breaking point to justify support.
We spoke to some area practitioners and advocates to learn more about how the pandemic’s ripple effects continue to impact New Jerseyans’ mental health and what resources are available.
Five years after the advent of COVID, how have the pandemic’s long-term effects impacted mental health awareness and treatment?
“One of the most enduring things that has come out of the pandemic has really been the normalization of these conversations around mental health. Before COVID, a lot of people still viewed therapy as something that you only need during a crisis or if things are really bad. I think nowadays, more people really see mental health care as essential or even preventative. Telehealth also, of course, removed a lot of the logistical barriers for folks getting access to therapy, so for people who are juggling caregiving, parenting, people who are working from home, even people who have chronic health issues that make it hard for them to get out to a therapist’s office or transportation, telehealth has certainly made therapy a bit more accessible—although, I’ll just add that, as we’ve passed the five-year mark, there’s also, I think, an increased demand for in-person [therapy], so we’ve actually kind of seen the pendulum swing in both directions.”
—Michelle Richardson, MSW, LCSW, Founder & CEO, Mindful Soul Center for Wellbeing
What kind of challenges did the pandemic present to children, and how are those struggles still evident?
“My younger son was in middle school at the time and was out of school for almost two straight years, and I would say that it’s still impacting him to this day—there’s a huge difference in his education compared to his older siblings. … It was so long and it happened at a crucial time developmentally, when kids start practicing to be adults, where they’re doing more things on their own without their parents’ lead. No doubt, it’s impacted him and his education: He’s a junior in high school and only just now we’re starting to see him come out of that bubble and blossom a little, but I don’t think he’s getting the education that my older kids got. It feels expectations have been lowered because we had to be a little easier on these kids for so long.”
?Liz Brandt, parent advisor to the commission, Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
As the stigma around mental health abates, more resources can flourish to meet targeted needs. How do those programs and services aim to provide a specific area of support?
“Many postpartum moms experience mom guilt and ‘the shoulds.’ For example, ‘I wanted this baby so badly and we tried for this baby for years, I should be happy. I should be able to handle this. I shouldn’t be so sad.’ This is a huge reason new moms avoid seeking help, because they are ashamed and they feel guilty about having these feelings in the first place. There is a difference between postpartum depression and ‘baby blues.’ Sixty-80% of women experience the ‘baby blues,’ which occur within the first two weeks postpartum; however, if the symptoms are continuing after two weeks or if they’re causing significant impairments in general functioning?a very marked change from your baseline?we may consider a postpartum depression diagnosis.”
?Emilie Sheridan, LCSW, PMH-C, Virtua Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program
“What inspired the launch of the [2NDFLOOR] app was the need to meet youth where they’re at with technology, whether it be phones or tablets. We wanted to be there and harness the technology to create a more dynamic space for youth to find and receive support, and interact with their peers and community message boards: It’s in their hands, it’s in their homes, they can have support whenever they need it, without worry, without a barrier. … [Feedback] has been extremely positive. Youth are finding that it’s a safe place to give or receive support, they don’t feel alone, there’s always counselors to chat with, and the community board is available to them at any time to either read what their peers are going through, talk about what they’re going through or just to find inspiration. We do work very closely with a youth focus group, which really helps.”
—Patricia Behrens, Community Outreach Director, 2NDFLOOR
Do you have clients who never thought they’d reach out for help, let alone benefit from it?
“Yes, more often than you might think. One of the most humbling aspects of our work is witnessing the transformation in clients who came in with deep skepticism, fear or the belief that therapy wasn’t ‘for them.’ Some had grown up in environments where mental health was never discussed; others were taught to push through or ‘just deal with it.’ But something—whether it was the pandemic, a life transition or an inner sense that things couldn’t stay the same—brought them through our doors. What I find is that clients discover healing doesn’t require you to be fully ready: It just requires them to be willing. We’ve had clients tell us, ‘I didn’t think anything could help me’ or ‘I didn’t believe I deserved support’ and later say, ‘This saved my life.’ … By understanding how the brain responds to trauma, stress, and growth, clients begin to realize that they’re not broken, they’re human.”
—Jeff Cox, LPC, LCADC, ACS, Director of Clinical Services, Beautiful Minds
While everyone’s road to better mental health is different, do you have any prevailing advice for people looking for help?
“Be prepared for a lot of difficult conversations: It can be a daunting process that can take a while. Don’t give up if your first therapist isn’t a good fit because, just like in the ‘normal’ world, you won’t click with everyone … I think it’s absolutely true that it’s never too late, or too early, to ask for help, and it is good for people to have a place to go to talk with a therapist. I work with a lot of older adults, I have clients who come to therapy for the first time in their 80s; we get calls from parents who want their kids to come in as young as 4 or 5. The other thing is that you don’t have to be in crisis: More people are open to the fact that anyone can benefit from and utilize therapy—it really is for everyone! It’s not a sign of weakness or anything like that.”
—Dr. Kathryn Brzozowski, DSW, LCSW, Therapist/CEO, SpeakEasy Counseling
RESOURCES
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Beautiful Minds Reflections Counseling & Wellness |
SpeakEasy Counseling Virtua Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program
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Willow Wellness Center
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