Mental Health Issues Are on the Rise, So Why Aren't We Accessing Care?

March 2021 Charlotte Jewish News

By Howard Olshansky Executive Director, JFS

Stress, anxiety, and depression are at an all-time high. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in three adults in the United States has reported anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms during the pandemic. The repercussions of the pandemic on certain specific populations are even more concerning.

Data from the same poll show a recent increase from 27% in March to 47% in July in the number of adults over the age of 65 reporting negative mental health effects due to worry and stress. And although the statistical data related to children in our area are lacking, we know anecdotally that being quarantined at home and socially distanced from friends and struggling to keep up academically have taken their toll. According to the CDC, beginning in April 2020, the proportion of mental health-related emergency department visits among all pediatric emergency department visits increased and remained elevated through October. Compared with 2019, the proportion of mental health-related visits for children ages 5 to 11 and 12 to 17 years increased approximately 24% and 31%, respectively.

Stressed out and stretched too thin, health-care workers have been among those hardest hit. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), half of physicians nationwide report feeling anxious because of COVID-19-related concerns. A recent survey found nearly 60% of health-care professionals report experiencing burnout — a significant leap from 40% two years ago. Yet most of them are not receiving mental health treatment.

Several factors are preventing our frontline workers from receiving help. The stigma of being in therapy that exists in the general population is even more pronounced for healthcare workers and, in particular, doctors. According to the AAMC survey, only 13% of providers have sought treatment to address pandemic-related mental health concerns. Among emergency physicians, 87% of whom say they’ve been experiencing increased stress, nearly half report not feeling comfortable seeking mental health treatment. According to one physician who responded to the survey, “I was worried my peer colleagues would see me differently. I worried that the entire leadership would know, and I’d feel like Big Brother was always watching me. I just didn’t want to be perceived as weak.” As the pandemic drags on, experts worry that providers will avoid much-needed mental health care for fear of harming their reputations or ruining their careers.

If our medical professionals are worried about the stigma of accessing mental health treatment, imagine being a senior who lived through a time when you were expected to be able to manage your emotions, and it was considered a weakness to access therapy. Or how do you suppose a teen under the microscope of peer pressure feels about asking for help? For adults, it is often a visit to the doctor where the need for mental health support is identified. For children, it is often school personnel who first notice behavioral changes and suggest treatment. But doctors’ visits are mostly happening on an emergency basis only, and children are not in school the way they were before, so mental health issues are not being as readily identified for these populations. The same holds true for our friends, co-workers, or family. With social distancing, our intimate gatherings and group activities are a thing of the past, so the opportunity to share and notice certain red flags is absent.

The irony of all of this is that for many, access to mental health treatment has never been easier. Telehealth removes some of the barriers to getting help, and insurance companies have agreed to pay for it, which has eased many of the challenges of accessing mental health support during the pandemic. And yet, it is not being accessed at the rates expected. JFS wants to help change that. For those members of our Jewish community struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or the emotional roller-coaster of the pandemic, we can help. If you do not have insurance or the ability to pay privately, we will ensure you can access the treatment you need. Call us at (704) 364-6594 or email info@ jfscharlotte.org.