Declining mental health states and increased substance abuse are at the top of recent employee concerns during the pandemic. Followed by feelings of uncertainty and fear, being bombarded by negative news, changes in work-style including performance demands and evaluation, uncomfortable and difficult home environments, uncertain financial and/or job security, declining health status, and childcare issues. Then, to top it off, there are concerns about COVID-19 exposure, potential burnout, depression, and suicidal ideation.
The Top Mental Health Concerns
1. Mental health concerns
2. Increased substance abuse
3. Feelings of uncertainty and fear
4. Negative news
5. Changes in work-style, including performance demands and evaluation, uncomfortable
6. Difficulty managing the home
7. Uncertain financial and/or job security
8. Declining health status
9. Childcare issues
10. The threat of COVID-19 exposure
11. Burnout
12. Depression
13. Suicidal ideation
Essential workers who are required to work with the public report higher rates of declining mental health states than telecommuters.
Adverse Psychological Outcomes
Essential workers, especially healthcare workers, are one-third more likely to suffer from Adverse Psychological Outcomes (APO) than teleworkers who are working from home, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), insomnia, depressive states, and suicidal thoughts. Those with pre-existing conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia are at greater risk of experiencing adverse psychological outcomes.
Women and Minorities
More than half of all adults who are working from home are expressing concerns regarding increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Disproportionately hit demographics include women and minorities. 25% of the female workers are opting out of the workforce voluntarily to tend to their families during the pandemic.
Families
For work from home families, whatever degree of home management, which was maintained pre-pandemic, fell apart when one or more family members began to telecommute, and schools and daycares were closed. It is almost too much to ask someone to do, especially for single parents working from home.
The shutdown of schools and daycares have put an incredible amount of undue stress on working and non-working families alike.
Men
While women, in general, and primarily single-parent women, are hit hardest during the pandemic reporting their feelings of overwhelm, and greater degrees of anxiety and depression, men are far more likely, 70% more likely, to actually succeed in committing suicide during these unprecedented times. If you are thinking about suicide, please reach out to someone to talk to, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, and 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish.
Unpaid Supporters
Often overlooked are the unpaid friends or family members who are volunteering to accept the increased challenges of lack of childcare resources during the pandemic. These individuals are also seeing a decline in mental health status and as reported, 31% of them have contemplated ending their own lives.
Inner-city domestic violence is up, and rural domestic calls are down (although this is likely due to non-reporting, as students who are not attending school cannot adequately be evaluated for abuse at home).
Children
And with all this talk about who is suffering from mental health decline regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s not forget the children. They are also experiencing a difficult time that they will never forget. Some of them are depressed, confused, feeling isolated, and abused. Since many of them are unable to attend school, the trained professionals who are charged with looking out for their mental health status are MIA (missing in action).
So, keep a watchful eye on our precious little ones and growing youngsters who may be showing changes in their behavior. According to the CDC, signs to look out for include:
- Excessive crying or irritation in younger children.
- Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).
- Excessive worry or sadness.
- Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits.
- Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.
- Poor school performance or avoiding school.
- Difficulties with attention and concentration.
- Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.
- Unexplained headaches or body pain.
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
Know what mental health resources are available to you and take advantage of them as needed.