Coronavirus is affecting mental health – especially for young adults in Hawaii and low-income residents with a family income of less than $ 50,000.
About 82% of respondents in a recent Department of Health survey “experienced a mental health problem at some point in the past six months,” with more than half – 52% – saying their symptoms started during the pandemic. At least 35% of residents with mental health problems prior to the COVID-19 crisis indicated that their symptoms worsened during the ordeal.
“People are really in survival mode now, so when you’re moving from one crisis to the next, it tends to have a negative impact on someone’s mental health,” said Kathleen Merriam, mental health supervisor at Windward Community Mental Health Center. “We don’t even know the long-term effects of something like a pandemic on mental health.”
For most people, this is the first time that they have been through a crisis of such magnitude, she said. With the large number of unemployed unable to survive and concerns about the health implications of COVID-19, the crisis is overwhelming for many residents.
“When we look only at our basic needs that are not being met, it will affect the mental health of an entire community,” said Merriam. “It is beyond the individual’s mental health. Entire communities are also suffering. Stress is compounded by additional stressors. Part of the complexity is that there is an unknown – we don’t know how much time we have to go through. Many people are asking themselves, ‘Am I going to lose my job? I paid the rent this month, but can I pay next month? ‘People are also in a panic about the future. It is very scary. “
About 68% of those interviewed in the DOH survey were anxious, 61% felt lonely, 57% were depressed at some point and 33% suffered panic attacks in the last six months.
Furthermore, family income seems to aggravate these negative feelings.
More than 90% of residents in households with an income of less than US $ 50,000 experienced one or more symptoms in the last semester. This compares to 75% of affected residents in families earning more than $ 100,000.
In addition, 93% of adults under the age of 35 had a mental health problem, while 65% of the elderly dealt with these problems, according to a survey of 445 residents from December 30 to January 11.
Residents with a child under the age of 18 in the household were more likely to have mental health problems than those without children, and people who were most concerned about the financial impact of the pandemic were also more likely to experience mental stress and depression in the past six months, the survey showed.
Men are being more affected, with 58% citing a new problem due to the pandemic. Women, however, were more likely to experience anxiety and panic attacks.
The survey also noted that Japanese residents are experiencing a particularly difficult time, with 68% currently experiencing mental health problems that they did not have before.
“We are all being affected by the pandemic,” said Amy Curtis, chief administrator of the Department of Health for Adult Mental Health, in a press release. “This is a real problem that calls attention to the need to be vigilant to meet the needs of our neighbors, friends, co-workers and others in the community.”
Health officials have reported a new death from coronavirus and 95 new infections, bringing the state’s total since the beginning of the pandemic to 424 deaths and 26,675 cases.
The Department of Health is encouraging people to connect with family or friends, get support from therapists or call the DOH Hawaii CARES hotline at 800-753-6879 or text “ALOHA” to 741741 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – for help.
In September, the hotline received a record 16,158 calls.
“Part of our challenge is how to inspire hope and a sense of the future in people who are so desperate. Part of that response is ensuring that we have resources available, ”said Merriam, adding that each county now offers COVID-19 counseling via the hotline for groups and individuals.