A Pin Drop, a Pandemic, and a Pained Planet

By SAMANTHA KIM

The streets were dead silent, and everyone was cooped up inside of their houses. On March 11, 2021, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, putting the world under lockdown. Country borders, restaurants, stores, and house doors shut, isolating the world. Besides the people in your household, human interaction was nonexistent.

At the start of Covid, in 2020, there were many who believed it to be a hoax. They disobeyed social distancing and mask mandates that were implemented to protect them and disregarded the severity of the virus.

For Bruce M., 68, who did not want to use his last name, after being let go right before his official retirement in April 2021, he began to spiral. A baby boomer, diehard Trump supporter, and avid watcher of FOX News, Bruce was diagnosed with severe depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder before Covid-19 hit. He, immunocompromised and due to his loyalty to our former president, Donald Trump, denied the existence and severity of Covid referring to it as a “fake news media conspiracy” as stated by the former president.

The pandemic only worsened Bruce’s mental state, and over the course of lockdown, he insisted he didn’t have any mental health illness, refusing to continue seeking professional help. He claimed mental illnesses didn’t exist.

“People are just too weak to tough it out these days, you know?” said Bruce.

He didn’t take Covid seriously, and it was affecting him both mentally and physically more than he knew.

Throughout the small cape-style house, FOX News could be heard “blaring on loop 24/7,” said Kate, Bruce’s wife, 66, while rolling her eyes.

“His depression worsened, and he needed to get help.”

A Difference in Mindset

For Boomers like Bruce M., the impact of Covid-19 hit hard, causing depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses to arise. Unlike Gen Z who have become very outspoken about their mental health, older generations don’t want it to be known that they have a problem. Older adults are often hesitant to reach out for help due to the persistent stigma around mental health issues and generational differences in how mental disorders are viewed.

In a U.K. study done in 2019, two in three baby-boomers experience mental health symptoms but many feel they’re not serious. Many older people feel that information about mental health isn’t aimed at them. While that is the old way of thinking, Gen Z see it for what it is.

For Gen Z, it has been found that they are more likely to report mental health concerns as a result of growing stressors and pressures personally and societally. Through social media and the internet, it has allowed Gen Z to connect with other people’s personal stories about their own struggles with mental health such as celebrities, strangers, and/or influencers. This connection makes it easier to normalize conversations about mental health.

“I believe that mental health nowadays has been shaped for the better with much less stigma around it in our generation than generations before us,” said Erin Kim, 19. “Although the stigma still does exist, due to Gen Z being so open and bringing awareness to mental illnesses, people are starting to see it as something that makes someone stronger, rather than weaker.”

Seeking Mental Help

When the pandemic hit, it wasn’t during lockdown that a spike of new patients were diagnosed with a mental illness. It was during the aftermath of lockdown where people began to seek help.

In a November 2020 poll done by the American Psychological Association surveying around 1,800 psychologists, 74% said their caseload consisted of patients with anxiety disorders compared to before the pandemic. An estimated 60% said their caseloads consisted of more patients with depression, and almost 30% said they had more patients overall. According to Mental Health America, older adults who don’t have close family or friends living within their personal “safe-zones” and who rely on outside contact through social programs and community activities are at an increased risk of mental health problems. Adding to that, MHA said individuals who already live with anxiety and/or depression may experience a worsening of their mental health, and those who haven’t experienced it previously are at an increased and substantial risk.

“In general, there’s been a surge in people seeking mental help due to lockdown and the waitlist is growing,” said Taryn Mazzuca, a licensed clinical social worker. “More people are reaching out because things are different and bring about different stressors: for example underlying familial issues and personal struggles.”

In another study done by JAMA Psychiatry found that almost 190 million [emergency department] visits for mental health conditions, suicide attempts, all drug and opioid overdoses, intimate partner violence, and child abuse and neglect were higher during the Covid-19 pandemic [than the previous year].

As a result, due to the pandemic, many mental health facilities have turned to online therapy using platforms such as Telehealth as a way to communicate virtually with individuals seeking professional help.

Looking Within Ourselves

Meagan, 29, a therapist and Kate and Bruce’s daughter, works with addicts and individuals with mental illnesses. Due to the pandemic and her overwhelming caseload, she is trying to prevent burning out and finding ways to cope with patients’ stories and trauma.

“You build a therapeutic relationship with your clients and then one day, they overdose and die or they kill themselves, and it’s a lot to take in,” said Meagan. “I try not to let it affect me, but it’s sometimes difficult to sleep at night knowing what people are going through.”

These are times of desperation. Meagan’s facility has had to turn away individuals.

“When these people come to you, they are at their lowest and you hear the worst parts of their lives,” said Meagan. “And it’s so hard to do that because you know they’re desperate.”

For Teri Bell, 60, Taryn’s mother, she really felt the effects of lockdown on her mental wellbeing.

“It’s been very isolating and there’s a deep grieving that’s going on,” said Bell. “I haven’t lost anyone that I’ve loved due to Covid specifically, but I have lost people during the pandemic, and it’s been hard not being able to properly say goodbye, so I go to someone to talk about it, and it’s allowed me to look within myself.”

As for Bruce, according to Kate, he is now fortunate enough to have found professional help. With the support of his family, he seems to be doing better.

Moving Forward

Gen Z, being avid social media users, aren’t as afraid to speak out more about mental health, especially with regards to anxiety and depression. Users such as Akanksha Bhatia, post daily reminders about overcoming the struggles with mental health, allowing others to see that things do get better.

During these challenging times, there’s still hope. Since it is difficult to find proper mental help, the Federal Government is providing resources for those who need guidance. The CDC is another place to refer to, listing out free and confidential resources on their page to help others or others’ loved ones connect with trained mental health professionals. Generations are slowly beginning to accept the idea that everyone is going through their own struggles and are open to seeking help themselves.