The Silent Pandemic - Mental Health

BY MICHELLE STEWART

When the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the world, little was known about the virus at the time.

Like other pandemics throughout history, it caused tides of fear and misinformation. Paired with forced isolation, not only did the virus spread, but so did another more silent symptom— mental health issues.

“We are witnessing universal trauma as a nation and a state,” said Dr. Rhonda Mattox, AMHC commissioner and boardcertified psychiatrist. “Social isolation, grief, uncertainty, and risk of rapid death have taken a toll on all of us to some degree. The fear of losing loved ones along with our disruptions in financial security have compounded all of this.” As a result of these matters, rates of drug and alcohol use, depression, anxiety and worry have increased. Public health colleagues of Dr. Mattox have warned physicians to prepare for a pending mental health crisis, but based on her latest encounters, the crisis is already here. “It has come upon us like a tsunami,” Dr. Mattox said. “People are speaking openly about needing and getting mental health treatment. Yet mental health professionals are making an exodus at alarming rates.” Because of this, more organizations have become proactive, working to fill the gaps and providing resources to communities to battle these effects.

ShaRhonda Love, former AMHC director, led the agency’s charge for ensuring programs, including those targeting mental health issues, moved forward during the pandemic. “We partnered with three organizations who worked with teens and adults and were able to provide access to mental health services and training,” she said. One of those organizations was REFORM, Inc., a non-profit organization that works with Arkansas youth ages 5-29, to teach them independent living skills and how to be leaders in the community. Melrita Johnson, founder and executive director of REFORM, Inc., hosted the organization’s first virtual National Youth, Teen and Young Adult Empowerment Expo earlier this year. “We wanted to present information on suicide prevention, especially with what was going on with COVID-19,” Johnson said. “A lot of the students were struggling with isolation from their friends, not feeling like they were being successful in the classroom and didn’t feel prepared for the grade they were in.” According to Johnson, mental health is anything that affects the way you live, laugh, love and learn. If this topic isn’t addressed throughout the state and those who are affected aren’t taught how to navigate through these mental and emotional effects of COVID-19, the outcome could be detrimental.

For mental health support, resources, educational materials and more, visit NAMI Arkansas at namiarkansas.org.

We Support. NAMI Arkansas provides family support groups for persons with loved ones who are living with a mental illness. All groups are run by trained peer facilitators and are private and confidential.

We Educate. NAMI Arkansas provides workshops and trainings on a variety of topics, such as depression, crisis intervention and managing holiday stress to community organizations, police departments and faith organizations.

We Advocate. NAMI Arkansas works closely with state organizations to shape policy for people with mental illness and their families and provides leaders with the tools, resources and skills necessary to save mental health in all states.

We Lead. NAMI Arkansas plans public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week and NAMIWalks, to successfully fight stigma and encourage understanding.

AMHC BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Commissioners leading the way to equal opportunities and access to health, health care, & preventive well-care for Arkansas minorities

AMHC COMMISSIONERS are highly respected thought leaders in the fields of education, government, medicine, and others. The commissioners meet regularly to provide oversight and feedback on matters that affect the Arkansas Minority Health Commission’s staff, leadership, and the individuals and families that they all serve. Each commissioner applauds the AMHC’s first 30 years of serving Arkansans and expects even greater accomplishments in the years ahead. To learn more about the work of the commissioners, please contact AMHC’s media relations department at 501-686-2720.

LARRY D. BISHOP || Born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Larry D. Bishop graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1982. He enlisted into the U.S. Army and served for over 20 years before retiring. He received an associate’s degree from Central Texas College and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University and has completed work toward a master’s degree in the same field. Bishop is currently a contractor for Project Enhancement Corporation of Georgetown, Maryland, and works at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He also serves as minister with the 9th & S Street Church of Christ in Fort Smith and operates a small business. He and Nesa, his wife of 36 years, have two daughters.

KELLY D. BRYANT, MS || Kelly D. Bryant is from Malvern, Arkansas, and currently resides in Pine Bluff. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering and from Webster University in Little Rock with a Master of Science degree in environmental management. Bryant is currently the environmental manager for Clearwater Paper Corp. and is responsible for compliance with state and federal environmental regulations and permits. She is a registered environmental manager. She believes in giving back to the local community and being on the AMHC board is an extension of that service. MATTIE P. COLLINS || A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Mattie P. Collins graduated from AM&N College, now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science. She earned an M.A. from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in Educational Administration. Collins is a retired teacher with 39 years of dedicated service. Presently, she serves as president of the Ivy Center for Education, Inc. a nonprofit college readiness and youth mentoring program. The main goal of the organization is to get Jefferson County youth prepared for college, which is also her personal passion.

MARKEITH COOK || Markeith Cook is currently the project manager/consultant for B.L. Breggs & Associates, a growing insurance firm located in El Dorado, Arkansas. He is contracted through his consulting firm, SOAR Strategies, which focuses on minority small business development. He recently started an organization called Coalition of Black Professionals to recognize, promote and support minority small businesses. He is also the founder of the Respect Coalition.

SEN. JACK CRUMBLY MA, EDS || A native of Arkansas, former State Senator Jack Crumbly served two terms, or six years, representing District 16, which comprises parts of Crittenden, Lee, Phillips and St. Francis counties. Currently retired,

he spends his time working on projects such as STRIVE (Special Training in Remedial Instruction and Vocational Education). An alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Crumbly graduated with a double major in agriculture and biology. He received his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He and his wife, Johnetta, have one son, two daughters, two grandsons and five granddaughters.

RITA HAMILTON || Rita Hamilton joined the AMHC in 2021. She received a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Relations and Master of Science Degree in Home Economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Rita was employed with the Mississippi County Cooperative Extension Service before serving 38 years as a Program Advisor at the Arkansas Department of Education, Child Nutrition Unit. Rita retired from there June 2017.

LAYZA LOPEZ-LOVE, BA || Layza Lopez-Love is a graduate of UCLA, earning a bachelor’s in sociology and Chicana/o studies. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is an assistant director of programs in the Office of Community Health and Research at UAMS Northwest and has 10 years of experience managing grantfunded programs. Lopez-Love is co-chair of the Washington County Hometown Health Coalition, a board member for NWA Continuum of Care and Project Right Choice, and a member in the Northwest Arkansas Tobacco and Drug Free Coalition, Engage NWA, Gaps in Services to the Marshallese, and Springdale Coordinated School Health. A native of Los Angeles, she currently lives in Springdale with her husband and son.

DR. RHONDA MATTOX, MD || Dr. Mattox is a board-certified physician and diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She serves as an integrative behavioral health psychiatrist and mental health consultant to family medicine doctors. From Hollywood to Capitol Hill, Dr. Mattox has been behind the scenes consulting in medical media, research, and state and national health policy. While working at University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), she began assisting New York and Hollywood’s award winning writers and executive producers in Hollywood’s story lines. Her expert commentary has been quoted in national popular media like Forbes and Huffington Post, as well as prestigious academic journals.

RICKEY MCCAULEY || Rickey McCauley earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and worked for over 10 years in the health care in- dustry. During college, he worked at a health care agency in Memphis. McCauley later returned to Arkansas and worked at a community health care center as its chief information officer. He has spent over 10 years in rural Arkansas addressing dwelling disparities that have an impact on health.

KRIS I. NWOKEJI, MD || Dr. Kris Ikenna Nwokeji champions the AMHC’s mission to seek, through education, ways to address and prevent diseases and conditions that are prevalent among minority populations. He hopes that, in the coming years, childhood disorders in Arkansas will be decreased because of the work of the AMHC. Dr. Nwokeji completed his pediatric residency at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Harlem Hospital Center. He supports a health-centered community through volunteer activities in the local school system and child care centers. Born in Austin, Texas, Dr. Nwokeji was raised in Nigeria.

LOUIS PORTLOCK, MA || A native of Chicago, Louis Portlock earned a Bachelor of Arts in counseling from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, and a Master of Arts in counseling and guidance from Roosevelt University in Chicago. The majority of his profes-sional career was with the Chicago Police Department, where he served as an investigator, instructor and in various roles for over 31 years. After moving to Little Rock, Arkansas, he began working for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His community service includes 100 Black Men of Greater Little Rock, board service with Little Rock Volunteers in Public Schools and others.

SEDERICK C. RICE, PHD || Sederick C. Rice is a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), a Master of Science in biology at Delaware State University, and a doctorate in cell and molecular biology at the University of Vermont. Dr. Rice is an assistant professor of biology at UAPB. He is also the current chair of the AMHC board of commissioners. Dr. Rice hopes that the AMHC continues to support the health and well-being of minority populations and all citizens.