Mental Health Challenges in a Post-COVID World:

Strategies for Fostering Community and Connection

In March 2020, the world collectively experienced the beginning of a global pandemic that forever changed our lives in nearly every respect, including how people live together and how HOAs are managed. The physical and emotional effects of COVID have amplified existing mental health challenges, as well as creating and perpetuating new ones. This article examines some of the consequences of COVID that affect community mental health, including a changing statutory environment and other things that make everyone’s job harder; the effects of prolonged isolation and loss, including a decrease in civility, limited resources, and an alarming increase in violence; and some strategies for rising to these challenges and improving the mental health of our communities.

Post-COVID Changes: Scarcity and Stress

Many people feel that their jobs have gotten harder because of COVID (and not just health care professionals; everyone seems to feel this way) and this feeling is legitimate. Our communities have faced stressors and scarcity of resources in nearly every key area. For example, a rapidly changing statutory environment has forced community managers and directors to react quickly to new rules and requirements, even as the systems in place are resistant to rapid change. After enduring years of emergency orders regarding everything from swimming pools to conduct of meetings, it is a challenge to figure out what rules still apply and what rules need to be changed to reflect the new normal. With the California state

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