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Mental Health & Wellness and COVID

We’re just entering into June, the month where spring gives way to the carefree days of summer. It should be a time filled with sunshine and little worries. However, this May was quite possibly one of the most stressful moments on our collective and individual health. How do we find the help we need when we’re feeling alone and vulnerable? Last month was Mental Health Month and we’ve learned a lot of ways we can help. So let’s spread some awareness on how the digital world is creating new ways to deal with the pressures of the COVID pandemic.

Helping Students Cope

All of us are affected mentally by the current living conditions. We worry about our health and wellness. We worry about our futures. But some groups, in particular,  are missing out on moments they may never get back. Students everywhere are feeling a loss of control in their lives that may lead to anxiety and depression.

Art With Impact has always promoted mental wellness by creating spaces for young people to learn and connect through art and media. And during this time of social distancing, Art With Impact is offering Movies for Mental Health Online, a virtual workshop that empowers young adults to tell their stories through the power of film. In times like these, it’s important to provide students with a safe forum to connect with others who are struggling with the same things. Movies for Mental Health uses a software platform that allows students to partake in live group communication and real-time connection to mental health resources while simultaneously viewing award-winning films related to such topics as anxiety, depression, and anger. It’s a much-needed creative outlet and a great way to practice mindfulness during these difficult times, but if you’re a person who’s been struggling with mental illness for much of your life, or if you feel like your emotions are starting to get the best of you, one-on-one online therapy, or e-counseling, might be the right choice for you.

Therapy at Home

TalkSpace has helped thousands of people live happier lives without having to leave their homes to find a licensed therapist. Now that leaving your home is not an option, TalkSpace is more vital than ever. And the experience couldn’t be easier to access. Simply sign up and answer a few questions, then choose from a list of therapists selected especially for you. Even better, you can communicate with your therapist through audio, video, or even text. So wherever you are, or whatever your comfort level, you can always give your mental health the attention it deserves. Other online therapy services to consider are BetterHelp, HealthSapiens, and Online-Therapy.com. Each one is unique in its own way and provides mental health services you may not have considered under normal circumstances.

The Silver Lining

If there’s any good that has come from this pandemic, it is that the world is finally realizing the advantages of digital solutions for mental health. Don Mordeci, the national leader for health and wellness at Kaiser Permanente, has said over 90% of the mental health visits are now happening virtually. Such an uptake in telehealth visits would have taken years under normal circumstances. But the treatments have been so successful, Kaiser Permanente is now upgrading their services to include a smartphone-powered behavioral health app. myStrength by Livongo centers around digital content and links to other mental health websites to help users build emotional strength, find inspiration and hope, and track their mental health progress along their journey. This is just one of many apps that are helping people face the stress, fear, and anxiety they are feeling at this moment in time.

Now the question is: how will we use the lessons from COVID to improve the way we access mental health care in the future? And will the world be a better place for it? Our digital healthcare marketing team at New Jersey marketing agency Trajectory thinks so.