As Los Angeles takes steps to recover from the historic and hellish introduction of COVID-19, we're faced with the reality that thousands of loved ones have died, millions of livelihoods have been decimated, and it's not over.
Amid this uncertainty, we are left to rebuild in a changed metropolis, after mass unemployment, mass protests, restricted contact, and deadly illness.
If you feel distressed some of the time, some of the days, you're probably with the majority of people, period.
Extreme grief and isolation are extremely real threats to our health. Experts worry that the next pandemic will be a mental health one.
The virus has frozen dimensions of our daily lives, and in doing so, it's taken away so many comforts and coping strategies that we would otherwise lean on in times of distress.
But support is out there. We put together a guide of local resources to help you find it.
If you or someone you know needs help or someone to talk to, please reach out to the organizations and professionals below until you find some relief.
This isn't an easy question to answer because it's different for everyone. But there are some objective measures.
Things to look out for:
"If you feel distressed some of the time, some of the days, you're probably with the majority of people, period," Dr. Emanuel Maidenberg, clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, told us. But he said if you start feeling distress for most of the day, for most of the week, and if those feelings of anxiety or sadness persist for a week or two, it could be time to reach out for help.
"If you're not feeling well, you should reach out to someone, particularly when it gets to the point where this is affecting the quality of your life," said Dr. Jorge Partida Del Toro, chief of psychology at the L.A. County Department of Mental Health.
It's possible. Here you go:
UCLA psychiatrist Helen Lavrestky also spoke with our newsroom's public affairs program, AirTalk, about how mind-body therapies can support cognitive function.
Key takeaways? Yoga, tai chi, and walking meditation have been found to improve quality of life, overall mood, and cognitive functioning.
If you have health coverage, the best place to start your search for mental health services is your insurance provider.
Your insurance company can give you a list of in-network mental health service providers.
But, if you're like many people and either your insurance doesn't cover the services you need or you have a high deductible, you might be on your own to find a therapist or counselor who is right for you (and your budget).
"I feel weird saying 'go to the internet' to look for it,'" Dr. Tonya Wood, president of the California Psychological Association, told us. "But that really is, I think, the best first place."
There are some online "therapist matching" and directory options, but they have varying degrees of user-friendliness:
Sometimes therapists will offer a short free phone consult. Take it. You can often get a good sense about them. And the more intro calls you make, the easier it is to identify the things that make you feel comfortable.
If you find a therapist and it doesn't feel like a good fit, then it's not a good fit.
Therapy naturally comes with some uncomfortable moments, but you should feel comfortable, safe, heard, and understood by your therapist. If you don't, find another one.
Also, it's always a good idea to check to see if your potential therapist has their licensing in good standing. You can check that out here.
Dr. Wood suggests asking a potential therapist about their approach to mental health, counseling and psychotherapy,
Especially during the pandemic, you should also ask about telehealth and video conferencing sessions.
"I think so much of it is about the relationship and the level of comfort that you feel with the individual," Wood said.
Sometimes a personal referral/endorsement is a great way to find a therapist.
Call the L.A. County Department of Mental Health's Helpline at (800) 854-7771. It's open 24/7 and is the entry point for mental health services provided by the county. It's a very good place to start if you want help but the thought of paying for that help is contributing to your stress level.
"We strongly believe that anybody that needs help should be able to get it, regardless of their ability to pay for the service," said Dr. Del Toro. "We also provide services to anyone regardless of their legal status and I think that's also something very important for our large immigrant community to understand."
If you're in emotional or psychological distress, you can call the Department of Mental Health's helpline and speak with a clinician who will evaluate your needs and provide support, resources and referrals. "By law, you can't have somebody waiting more than 10 days to receive care," said Del Toro.
Here are some additional ideas/resources.
For adults
For kids
For 60+
Our newsroom's public affairs program, AirTalk, recently spoke with Albert Garcia-Romeu at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychadelic and Consciousness Research on the latest developments in the use of psychedelics.
AirTalk also spoke with Stanford’s Brain Stimulation Lab about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and the lab's efforts to develop fast-acting relief for those experiencing severe mental distress.
Here are the options.
That's OK. The L.A.-based mental health startup Frame hosts digital workshops, led by licensed therapists, "for people who aren't ready to try therapy," said the company's CEO Kendall Bird.
Bird said the workshops can help unsure Angelenos "get a sense of what therapy could be like for them ... have a better understanding of what you can talk about, ... and also to learn that there are really different styles of therapists."
Lisa Brenner and Lucy Copp contributed to this report.
