SJM_DEPT_Health_Mental_Health_0521_Dept 5 / 13 / 21 4 : 56 PM Page 1 among the groups seeking support , says Caitlin Archibald , a licensed professional counselor and certified clinical trauma pro - fessional who recently opened The Chrysalis Counseling Center . “ I would say that many new clients had never seriously entertained the idea of seeking therapy prior to the pandemic , ” Archibald says . “ It appears that , in general , people are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety and stress coupled with dissatisfaction in many areas of their lives . The pandemic has made people feel lonely , disconnected , frightened , An unsafe , frustrated and overwhelmed . Many clients report feeling stifled by having their whole life contained to their house in addition to the overwhelm of attempting to balance all Ongoing of their life roles without any separation or space between them . We have all lost access to some of the things we enjoyed that would help us cope with stress and negative feelings prior to the pandemic . This is leaving many with a Crisis sense of grief . ” Angelini says the blurring of work / life boundaries is a commonly expressed con - THE PANDEMIC’S cern . “ Home became work , work became home and people felt the need to work at any UNCERTAINTY hour , or skip lunch to get more done . And HAS CAUSED then if you were also a parent , your life flipped and it took people a while to figure it out . ” MORE PEOPLE Through it all , children have been TO SEEK OUT picking up on those nuances too . “ Our kids are watching us , ” Angelini continues . “ If MENTAL HEALTH we’re watching news about COVID or they RESOURCES hear us talking about work , someone getting sick or financial concerns , they are picking LOOKING FOR up on it . It’s important to have honest , age - WAYS TO COPE . appropriate conversations with them and by Liz Hunter model good stress management and well - ness behavior . ” Changes in a child’s baseline mood — pring has brought much hope to the country . More than 200 million suddenly becoming more sad or irritable , vaccine doses have been administered , an increasing number of schools are not eating or sleeping — may be signs of reopening for in - person learning and families are reuniting after too many S needing to seek a health care provider’s guid - months apart . However , just as the COVID - 19 pandemic seems as if it’s under con - ance . The same goes for adults who may trol , there is another wave to be aware of , according to mental health professionals . notice changes in appetite , sleep and mood . A new report from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention found the There are a variety of ways to do so . One number of adults with recent symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder increased outlet is a COVID - 19 FEMA / SAMHSA grant from 36.4 to 41.5 % between August 2020 and February 2021 . Adults are reporting program called NJ Hope and Healing , difficulty sleeping and eating , and an increase of alcohol and substance abuse , all offered by The Mental Health Association in due to worry about the COVID - 19 pandemic . New Jersey in collaboration with the New Yet what makes this mental health crisis unique is the uncertainty of what’s to Jersey Department of Human Services ’ Divi - come . Jaime Angelini , statewide director of disaster services and special projects , sion of Mental Health and Addiction Ser - Mental Health Association in New Jersey , says her agency has responded to disas - vices , Disaster and Terrorism Branch . ters in the past — 9 / 11 and Hurricane Sandy among them — but those were different . This program makes free , virtual support “ In those events and with other natural disasters , there’s a beginning and an groups available via Zoom . Sessions are end . With the pandemic , the question is , ‘ When will it end ? ’ ” she says . “ Month after organized by shared experiences , such as month people are wondering if they will lose their job , if their kids will go back to groups specifically for school nurses , college school , will they be going back to the office . This is why we’re seeing the increases in students , COVID - positive individuals , par - ear and anxiety . ” f ents or LGBTQ + . There are also groups that The experiences were not limited to those already living with a mental illness , promote mindfulness and coping strategies . she adds . “ Everyone has been impacted across the board and we’re supporting These are often a first step for someone anyone and everyone . Our call line doubled , which is not a bad thing because it who has never explored mental health means people are reaching out for emotional support . ” resources before . “ Participants find the In particular , parents , health care workers , teachers and children have been groups helpful because they immediately SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume18 issue 2 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 26 |