With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
How COVID-19 Is Affecting People Living With A Mental Illness
()
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone’s mental health, as we’re forced to limit face-to-face interaction and hole up at home under state and local orders aimed at slowing the rate of infection.
That psychological toll can be especially hard for people living with a mental illness.
“We’ve received a lot more crisis calls from family members, but also from people living with mental illness asking for resources of any kind,” said Brittany Wiessman, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in L.A. County.
Weissman said it doesn’t help that many patients are having their in-person clinical sessions upended.
Support for LAist comes from
Dr. Curley Bonds, Chief Medical Officer for the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, said many mental health providers have switched over to tele-health appointments.
But he’s concerned that some psychiatric facilities may be shutting their doors to in-patient care. He told us:
“We have heard some reports that a few of these facilities have said, ‘We’re not taking on new patients right now.’”
GET SOME TIPS:
Some resources from our friends at CalMatters:
ASK FOR HELP
- Steinberg Institute website, links to mental health resources and care throughout California,
- Institute on Aging’s 24/7 Friendship Line (especially for people who have disabilities or are over 60), 1-800-971-0016 or call 415-750-4138 to volunteer.
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, 24/7 Access Line 1-800-854-7771, links to COVID-19 information.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
- The Crisis Text Line, Text “HOME” (741-741) to reach a trained crisis counselor.
- California Psychological Association Find a Psychologist Locator>>
- Psychology Today guide to therapists>>
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures. -
It will be the second national day of protest against President Donald Trump. -
The university says the compact, as the Trump administration called it, could undermine free inquiry and academic excellence. -
This is the one time you can do this legally! -
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.” -
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week.
Best of LAist