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.

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:

He’s also worried what the economic downturn from the pandemic could mean for non-profits that were already struggling to provide mental health services.

GET SOME TIPS:

• How To Get Past The Coronavirus Crisis Without Losing Your Mental Health

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>>