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With the COVID-19 epidemic raging, our nation’s mental health infrastructure has been pushed to its limit. Already, millions have been infected and thousands have lost their lives. Job loss has only added to our sense of fear and social isolation. In addition to pre-existing conditions, those with the least resources and access have been most seriously affected. Black and Latinx communities have borne a disproportionate share of this ongoing tragedy. And many now find ourselves asking, what can be done to mitigate this suffering?
Many of us, trained to deliver psychological services, are qualified to address the mental health conditions that emerge in daily life. In the past, we often saw common barriers such as time and money interfere with treatment, making it difficult for clients to show up for appointments, ready to focus on the therapeutic process. But our training did not prepare us for a pandemic that would shred our former world. Our country has responded to massive calamities in the past—the 1918 flu, WWII, and September 11th, for example—however, at these times there was a coherent sense of cooperation, and now that collective effort has vanished amid compounding social disparities.
There is plenty of evidence that clients who are economically underprivileged and under-resourced are at the highest risk. In fact, individuals burdened with multiple hurdles are the very same people we are least successful in helping. As we work with patients, we wonder about those not seeking help because they are uninsured, spread too thin to pay for therapy, or unaware of or untrusting of the need for and support of mental health services. We want to tell ourselves that politicians and community organizers are tasked with solving these disparities, yet these extenuating factors stream into our consciousness, challenging us as we support our clients. We need to rethink our roles during this pandemic tragedy and beyond.
As infections spike across the country, effective public health interventions continue to be disregarded. We feel powerless as we walk past our mask-less neighbors. Still, there are things we can do with our family members, friends, and clients. You might notice that your clients only use their masks when required to do so. As soon as they leave the grocery store, the mask is off. Think about how you could approach this person. Although your client likely did not enter therapy to be questioned about wearing a mask, you might first need to decide whether it is appropriate to address the issue. If it is, what would you ask your client to consider? There are many reasons for wearing a mask – which ones are the most persuasive? If you can create a safe space for these conversations, you might be effective in changing their behavior.
Beyond the individual, there are community-level solutions. For example, you might petition your town to pass an ordinance that requires face masks in public settings. You might organize a group of friends to deliver protective masks for the economically disenfranchised. Just think, we have many social organizations, and it only takes one voice to mobilize others to action. This is exactly what happened when Greta Thunberg spoke out against climate change in 2019. Her voice inspired demonstrations across the world. You can inspire people to have healthy communities with outside-the-box thinking; let your creativity flourish, be selfless, and take risks. You will not regret feeling like you made a difference during these difficult times.
In subsequent blog posts, we will share stories of how psychologists can lead a mental health revolution. We will consider ways to deal with our current crisis and inevitable future crises. We will address the benefits for psychologists willing to assume new roles or expand current roles and provide concrete examples of what might be possible.
