Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bob Bick, of Shelburne, who is CEO of Howard Center.
The community’s response to the Covid-19 crisis has been monumental. Our neighbors in the medical professions and in our community-based programs are doing heroic work and it seems as though nearly every Vermonter is finding ways to contribute.
I have always been humbled by the deep well of generosity in our community. Now we are seeing that generosity coupled with Vermont’s trademark ingenuity as businesses shift manufacturing capacity to make masks and hand sanitizers, and individuals sew masks in their homes. Donations of items like these have been a tremendous help to Howard Center and we are deeply grateful.
“I am Vermont Strong” united Vermonters when Tropical Storm Irene devastated the state’s infrastructure and many families’ homes and livelihoods. The iconic phrase represents the Vermont spirit that has once again come to the fore as we face the challenge before us today.
Even as we all do our part to accommodate the crisis, we must prepare for the long term effects of Covid-19. We have all experienced stressful changes to our lives. Our routines have been disrupted; we feel isolated because of social distancing, and many are worried about the wellbeing of loved ones and our own chances of becoming ill. Thousands have lost jobs and face extreme economic hardship while health professionals and others working with vulnerable populations are experiencing tremendous stress as they cope with demanding jobs, fears of infection, and worries about bringing the disease home to their families.
These factors will exacerbate mental health issues that were serious concerns long before the arrival of Covid-19. Vermont and the United States have been experiencing high rates of suicide, alcohol and drug use, and overdose. All are linked to depression which will likely affect more Americans because of the crisis. University of Washington researchers have gone so far as to call on communities to prepare for a potential depression epidemic.
Early data supports these worries. A poll conducted in late March found that 45% of U.S. adults say their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the virus. Research on previous outbreaks also points to long-term mental health repercussions, especially for those directly affected.
The lack of social connection was a pre-Covid worry of experts like former surgeon general Vivek Murthy. While Murthy warns that the pandemic could trigger a further breakdown of social bonds and what he calls a social recession marked by more widespread loneliness, he remains hopeful that it could also trigger the opposite – a revival of social connections. It could offer an opportunity for meaningful change as we use the crisis to spark conversations about the importance of relationships and social connections in our lives.
As we focus on the situation before us, providers like Howard Center and Vermont’s other designated and specialized service agencies are building supports to help the community recover and transforming our agencies in response to the impacts of Covid-19. Howard Center has been adapting to community needs for more than 150 years and we are now, once again, reinventing ourself to meet the unique challenges of our times.
As individuals we can do our part to ease anxiety and distress. Take a walk, exercise, or listen to music that lifts your spirits. Do things that engage your mind like reading or making art, and stay connected with loved ones by phone or video calls. Offer support and seek support if you feel you need it. If you are struggling with anxiety or depression or if you just need to connect, dial 2-1-1 to find mental health services anywhere in Vermont. Support is available and providers are using video telehealth so you can connect without leaving home. By paying attention to self-care, staying connected, and sharing support, we can all contribute to better outcomes for our communities.
Although Covid-19 feels unprecedented, Vermonters have faced difficult periods before. Together we have been through pandemics, wars, and depression that touched all our communities. Through it all we have supported and cared for each other, always coming together to help one another overcome every hardship.
Dr. Murthy offers four helpful recommendations to address the social strains we’re experiencing: 1) Spend time each day with those you love — at least 15 minutes. 2) Focus on each other and give one another undivided attention. No multitasking, especially on Zoom. 3) Embrace solitude. Connecting with yourself is a prerequisite for connecting with others. 4) Help and be helped. Give and receive service to strengthen our social bonds.
After the acute risk of physical illness from Covid-19 subsides, the economic, social, and mental health effects will remain. Howard Center and Vermont’s other mental health providers, along with many other community partners, must be prepared to join the recovery effort. Vermonters will come together as they always do, as makers, thinkers, and doers, to find ways to contribute, and to help one another so we can, together, define our new shared reality, not be defined by it.
