Are you thinking about the effect of the coronavirus on your community and on your clients? We are too. COVID-19 has significant mental health consequences in addition to physical health dangers.
Three steps that you can take right now to support emotional wellness during the coronavirus outbreak:
- Keep yourself and your clients safe during COVID-19 while providing mental health care.
- Take practical steps to safely support your clients during the coronavirus outbreak.
- Add a COVID-19 statement to your Psychology Today profile.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This virus has brought changes to all of our daily lives. The restriction of movement and limitations on in-person sessions are new realities.
Mental health and COVID-19
A serious effect of the pandemic is the impact it will have on mental health. Fear, anxiety, and isolation will put not just our most vulnerable at risk, but also people who normally would not need care.
The pandemic will cause anxiety and depression, especially if this continues for a substantial period of time. More than ever, your community needs you. For the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, you can support your clients, helping them manage stress and anxiety through secure online sessions and being active in your community with constructive, helpful messaging.
Coronavirus, your community, and your practice
Technology allows us to connect with others virtually. Secure HIPAA-compliant tools enable us to provide online therapy and TeleHealth, keeping your practice busy during COVID-19 and providing critical support for your community. We can help you leverage your skills and training to help your clients and your community function better during this outbreak.
Keeping you and your clients safe during COVID-19
While therapists continue to provide care, you also need to consider how to keep you and your clients safe in the office during COVID-19. As time goes on, we may have to see clients in our office when we do, it is important to follow guidelines and keep everyone safe.
Finally, you need to be mindful of your own health and avoid therapist burnout during COVID-19. This is a challenging time and all health professionals, including therapists, need to take care of themselves so they can continue to offer support to those who need them.
Risk factors for who is more likely to need mental health support during COVID-19
Some populations that may need more mental health support include:
- Medical staff in direct contact with COVID-19 (such as nurses, doctors, and first responders).
- People who have a history of anxiety or other mental health conditions.
- People recovering from or struggling with substance use.
- Higher risk groups (older people and people with a higher risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes).
As described by the CDC, stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
- Anxiety about your health and the health of your loved ones
- Changes in eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Worsening of chronic mental health challenges
- Increased substance abuse or relapse to substance abuse
Get help today
Let’s meet this need together. Contact Therapy Everywhere for a free consultation on how to best support your clients, support your community, and sustain your practice.