UNITED STATES - The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many nations to their knees. In its short tenure, it has killed hundreds of thousands of people, has halted the world economy, and has even made its way into the locked doors of millions of quarantined homes, wreaking havoc on the mental health. No matter where you are in the world, the fear of the virus is real, and it is affecting how we go about our daily lives. People who aren’t generally used to worrying about their mental health are experiencing the effects of isolation, social distancing, quarantine, and the changing laws that force us to wear face masks and distance ourselves from others. 

Many who are struggling with social distancing and the new laws which were enacted to provide safety when interacting with other people are struggling with a lack of a basic human need—human contact. Unfortunately, the international laws that have been put in place are, in some cases, are almost as deadly as the virus itself. In 2016 the World Health Organization estimated that close to 800,000 people around the world commit suicide every day, and many sources predict that the suicide rate will rise amidst this global pandemic.

People question why multiple sources predict that there will be an increase in suicides this year during the pandemic than what is usually reported? The simple answer is this: we are living in a time when it is scary to go to the grocery store or spend time with our friends and family. Going to work or leaving our houses poses risks to those we love as Covid-19 continues to spread, having yet to hit its peak in most countries. The truth of the matter is we are cut off from the very things that help us cope with the hardships of everyday life—other people. Humans rely on each other to get through life’s difficulties, and yet, we are dealing with a pandemic that forces us to separate to manage the virus. 

Thus, the question remains, what can we do to help those struggling with their mental health during this uncertain time? For many, this would be an opportune time to seek counseling, but health care has been significantly impacted by our ability to go out and meet with doctors and therapists. Since the medical system is overwhelmingly and rightfully so, focused on helping those afflicted with Coronavirus, mental health professionals are finding new and creative ways to support their patients. They have encouraged clients to maintain their counseling sessions using tools like Teladoc and Doxy.me to help them process their emotions. These virtual sessions help patients steer clear of the types of crises for which intervention would be mandatory. In this “new normal,” healthcare providers are using virtual counseling to deter people from engaging in harmful behavior or suicidal ideations, which would result in mandatory commitment.

Companies like HearMe also fill the gap by providing users with someone to act as a “listening ear” to whom they can talk and vent about the impact of the virus. Whether quarantined alone or with family, sometimes people need a stranger to talk to whom they feel will not judge them. This app service is one of the many approaches people are using to keep people in touch and alleviate some of the stress that comes with being isolated from those we love. Becoming a listener for one of these apps has various requirements, and are generally not considered therapy, but it does require a level of patience and empathy. What is most important is that people keep an open mind and listen to the person on the other end of the phone. 

Though there are no firm statistics on the success of these apps since their popularity and growth have increased with the global shelter-in-place edicts. However, anecdotally people claim that it has saved lives and help those who are struggling. Hopefully, it is an easily accessible tool for someone on the brink of self-harm or suicide. In the U.S., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is the first-line defense in the fight against this scourge. But, in this era of the virus, any tool or resource which is readily available may be the difference between life and death. If you are struggling to find things to do during your time in isolation, or miss connecting with other people, consider downloading positive affirmation, motivational, or listening/talk therapy apps. Though we have no affiliation with HearMe, it is one of many such services that can help people through these troubling times.

Connecting you with people around the world who are struggling during this time of uncertainty, can help bring perspective to your difficulties. In this new world in which we find ourselves, we have to rethink all aspects of our daily lives radically. We must re-engineer how we establish meaningful connections; in a sense, technology is helping to expand our “village,” our interior landscapes and external borders. We are no longer defined by national boundaries, travel restrictions, or tribalism. We are free to interact with others who are struggling with social distancing measures just as we are, and in so doing, it enables us to reconnect with our shared humanity. 

RELATED ARTICLES

• How to Prevent a Depression Spiral While Quarantined (healthline.com)

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

• Stress and Coping (CDC.gov)

• How to Manage Depression During Quarantine (psychologytoday.com)

• The coronavirus pandemic is pushing America into a mental-health crisis  (washingtonpost.com)

• Portrait of Woman on Yellow Stairwell Red Background (Engin Akyurt)