What COVID-19 Taught Us about Mental Health Dr. Mary E. Daly, LMSW,

What COVID-19 Taught Us about Mental Health Dr. Mary E. Daly, LMSW, RN Associate Professor (Retired) Phi Alpha National Honor Society Board Member November 14, 2023

Purpose Explain the positive and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health Explore research on promising campus interventions Discuss our role in supporting mental health awareness and advocacy in higher education Review the best practices on campuses with Phi Alpha members

Challenge s of the COVID-19 Pandemic Major stressors people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: Lack of social interaction Remote learning with new technology Working from home Home schooling & childcare issues Unemployment & financial distress Media stories about death tolls Ongoing uncertainty What has this experience taught us about mental health?

We Learned Environment Plays a Huge Role in Mental Health When our usual activities were taken away —everything from going into the office to socializing in person with friends—most of us noticed a shift in mental well-being. Disrupted routines and limited activity affected our sleep, appetites and general sense of well-being. We learned our surroundings and interactions matter to mental health (9, 16).

We Tried a Variety of Coping Skills Most people’s “go-to” coping activities were suspended. Gyms closed, social gatherings were discouraged, and large family events canceled. Many people sought other positive coping skills, like online yoga practice, knitting or reading books in a cozy chair. We learned that when you can’t access your usual coping tools a variety of activities can help us manage our emotions and deal with stress or lack of social interaction (9,16).

We Gained New Appreciation for the Outdoors Outdoor spaces, such as backyards and community parks, offered a socially-distanced reprieve from being cooped up indoors. Maybe you tried gardening, hiking, cycling or fishing as a new hobby. An APA article titled "Nurtured by Nature" explains how time spent in nature is healing. It can improve our cognition and mental health. The benefits include improved attention, lower stress, better mood, and reduced risk of mental health disorders (9,16,18).

We Fought Stigma with Mental Health Awareness The COVID-19 pandemic helped inspire more conversations about the importance of mental health. Celebrities, athletes, and everyday people used social media to discuss the impact on their psychological well-being. We learned that individuals, families, employers, and communities can help offer support to people when they need it. Advocacy increased for the importance of self-care, therapy, and help for those with mental health conditions. Hopefully, increased awareness leads to less stigma associated with seeking mental health care and therapy (9,16).

Some Coping Mechanisms were Not Positive – Substance use increased during the pandemic . (1)

Reflections Two Years PostPandemic? According to the CDC (2023), the unprecedented Covid pandemic and lockdown highlighted our stress response to isolation and the importance of social connection (13). Anyone can feel lonely, but some people may have a harder time connecting with others, including those with poor physical or mental health or financial insecurity; those who live alone, or identify as LGTBQ (3) Disparities in rates of illness, mental health, substance abuse and homelessness became exposed (3,5).

College Student Mental Health PostPandemic College students are experiencing all-time high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidality, according to the 2022-2023 Healthy Minds survey (8). 49% of college students have symptoms of anxiety of anxiety disorder; 14% seriously considered committing suicide during the past year (12,15). U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called attention to the number of youth attempting suicide, noting the COVID-19 pandemic has “exacerbated the unprecedented stresses young people already faced” (10,11).

College Counseling Centers Overload College & Universities are struggling to meet Mental Health (MH) needs. Services have been expanded & counselors hired but staffing falls short of meeting needs (9,10). Students with mental health diagnoses were already at risk of dropping out before the pandemic. 64% of young adults no longer in college withdrew due to mental health (2).

Comprehensive Mental Health Strategies National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine 2021 reported that campus counseling services are a partial answer to improving student well-being (12). High caseloads and turnover in staff are persistent problems. 2021 Nov. 2023 New report from American Council on Education (ACE), November 2023 identifies areas for colleges and universities to prioritize as supportive measures for students and employee's mental health (16).

Newer Approaches to College Mental Health Trauma-informed Public Health-Informed Students are more likely to have encountered trauma prior to college OR experienced collective trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Behavioral symptoms are a result of coping with past adverse experiences. Focuses on mental health promotion and risk reduction. (10,11,16,17)

Trauma- Informed Care Chart by the Institute on Trauma & Trauma Informed Care (2015)

Public Healthinformed Approach Promote student well-being (prevention), early intervention and treatment. Encourage healthy lifestyle strategies (2,11) Faculty, coaches & staff as “first responders” who can help identify students in distress. May include taking the Mental Health First Aid course. Recognize Respond Refer (14)

Creative Approache s to Student MH Support Group support groups promote social connections Counselor “let’s chat” sessions – increase accessibility Peer Support Groups – National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) groups Peer Counseling – provide training in counseling & crisis intervention (10,11,16)

Nurture a Culture of Wellness Self-Care Plans Eastern Tennessee University has this a Social Work course assignment. What if all university students had a self-care plan? Ohio State has a Wellness App to create a plan and share wellness event invites to yoga and other healthy activities (16).

Advocate for College Mental Health Policy Promote less cumbersome leave of absence policies. Streamline student’s return to academic program and studies. Create student-led advocacy groups to fight for mental health resources. Morehouse College joined with other HBCUs to lobby federal officials for funding (2,11).

Our Mental Health Strategy PostPandemic ? Communities University Faculty & Students Social Work Faculty & Students Self-Care

Service Possibilities for Phi Alpha Chapters Discussion on Service Projects: Teaching/mentoring other students in self-care? Connecting more frequently with other members or chapters? Promoting awareness or Mental Health First Aid to our campuses? Providing peer counseling or forming peer support groups? Advocating for changes related to mental health access and policies?

Self-care Planning for Social Workers – Excerpt from 3/28/23 presentation Taylor Roberts, BSW, MSW Student Paul Baggett, PhD, LCSW, ACSW

Implicatio ns for Social Work Educator s& Students Effective June 1, 2021, the NASW Code of Ethics included “explicit attention to self-care”. Need to promote and practice self-care as part of ethical practice Also, includes a statement encouraging macrosystems to “promote policies, practices, and materials to support social workers’ self-care.”

Integrating Self-Care as Ethical Practice Find ways to multitask with your self-care. What is something I am already doing that I could incorporate with self-care?

Take your lunch break outside Listen to music/podcast on your walk to class Practice mindfulness on your commute to work Stretch while watching Netflix Stand while working at your desk Practice mindfulness before meals Set a timer on phone to stretch Refill the water every time you go to the bathroom, even if it is not empty Take a deep breath every time you step outside Implement a no phone zone during your lunch or commute to class/meetings Take the stairs instead of the elevator Say one selfaffirmation after first sip of coffee in the morning

Self-care plan Identify Identify areas of stress that you: (1) are currently experiencing and/or (2) anticipate encountering this semester. Create Create specific and measurable action steps. Examples: Stressor: Unhealthy diet Stressor: Feeling discouraged Enter Enter the activities in your daily planner.

Simplest Self-Care: Breathe for Stress Relief! (4)

Thank You!

References 1. Agovino, T. October 2, 2021. The COVID-19 Crisis Has Brought Substance Abuse to Light. https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/all-things-work/pages/covid-19-brought-substance-abuse-to-light.aspx 2. American Psychological Association. October 2022. Student Mental Health is in Crisis. Campuses are rethinking their approach. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health-campus-care 3. Association for Psychological Science (2021). Mental Health in a Global Pandemic: Lessons Learned From Psychology. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/observer/obsonline/mental-health-in-a-global-pandemic.html 4. Blanchfield, T. Sept. 22,2022 Breathe for Stress Relief. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-benefits-of-deep-breathing-5208001 5. CDC Office of Health Equity, June 27, 2023. Prioritizing Minority Mental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/minority-mental-health/index.html 6. Fuller, K. July 1, 2022. How COVID Changed Our View of Mental Health. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-covid-19-has-changed-our-mental-health-world-5094093 7. Grise-Owens, E. & Miller, J. (2021) The New Social Worker. Self-Care A-Z: National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (CoE) 2021 Updates. https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/self-care/national-association-social-workers-nasw-code-of-ethics-2021-self-car e/ 8. Healthy Minds National Data Report, 2022-2023. https://healthymindsnetwork.org/publications/ 9. Morin, A. May 21, 2021. Six Mental Health Lessons Learning During Covid 19. https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-lessons-learned-during-covid-19-5181018

References 10. Mowreader, A. November 7. 2023. Report: Where Higher Ed Needs to Invest in Mental Health. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/health-wellness/2023/11/07/six-considerations-next-gen-college-student-mental 11. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education: Supporting the Whole Student. https://doi.org/10.17226/26015. 12. National Alliance of Mental Illness. Mental Health in College. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults/Young-Adults/Mental-Health-in-College 13. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, March 21, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/emotional-wellbeing/social-connectedness/index.htm 14. National Council for Mental Well-being. (2023) Mental Health First Aid. https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/our-work/mental-health-first-aid/ 15. Newport Institute. November 12, 2022. Depression in College Students: New Statistics and Research. https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/mental-health/depression-on-college-campuses 16. Ordway, D-M. September 13, 2023. Improving college student mental health: Research on promising campus interventions. https://journalistsresource.org/education/college-student-mental-health-research-interventions/ 17. University of Buffalo. ND. What is Trauma-Informed Care? https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/what-is-trauma-informed-care.ht ml 18. Weir, K. April 1, 2020. Nurtured by nature - American Psychological Association (APA). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature 19. Weisman, S. August 4. 2021. New Mental Health Investments, Ongoing Uncertainties https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/08/05/colleges-expand-mental-health-offerings-ahead-fall-semester