The document discusses the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It notes that quarantine and social isolation, unemployment and financial hardship, educational disruptions, and changes to mental health services have negatively impacted people's mental health. Studies found high levels of emotional distress, worsening symptoms for those with preexisting conditions, and increased substance abuse during the pandemic. Risks like overdose deaths and suicides are correlated with rising unemployment. The document provides recommendations for supporting mental health during this time, especially for those with children and special needs.

1. The impact of
COVID-19 on
mental health
Stephen Grcevich, MD
President and Founder, Key Ministry
SFN Dads Conference
May 16, 2020

2. Contributing factors to a
mental health crisis
• Quarantine/social isolation
• Unemployment, financial hardship
• Educational disruptions
• Impacts on mental health service
delivery
• Traumatization of frontline
healthcare providers
• “Down time”

3. Coronavirus impact on
young people with
mental health needs
• 32% grew “much worse”
• 51% “a bit worse”
• 9% “made no difference”
• 6% “became a bit better”
• 1% “became much better”
26% reported they could no longer
access mental health support
Source: youngminds.org.uk. Conducted 3/20-3/25

4. High levels of emotional distress, substance abuse from COVID19

7. Overdose, suicide
and
unemployment
• Overdose death rates from opioids increase by 3.6% for every
1% increase in unemployment, ED visits by 7%
• 46,802 overdose deaths by opioids in U.S. (2018)
• Relative risk of suicide increased 20-30% with unemployment
in last recession
Hollingsworth A et al. J Health Econ. 2017 Dec;56:222-233
Nordt C. et al. Lancet Psychiatry 2015; 2:239-45

8. “Most reviewed studies reported
negative psychological effects
including post-traumatic stress
symptoms, confusion, and
anger. Stressors included longer
quarantine duration, infection
fears, frustration, boredom,
inadequate supplies, inadequate
information, financial loss, and
stigma.”
Brooks S et al. Lancet:2020; 395: 912–20

9. Unique COVID-19 challenges when
families have kids with special needs
• Children at higher risk of severe COVID-19
complications need more rigorous social
distancing
• Special education services provided by schools
have largely disappeared
• Loss of access to private support services
• Fathers working, spending much more time at
home than usual
• Availability of in-home caregivers

10. Supporting your child’s
mental health through
COVID-19
• Keep your kid (and yourself) on a routine
• Model responses you desire from your child
• Involve your kids in serving other people
• Limit excessive exposure to news
• Promote connectedness with friends, family
through technology
• Busy is better for many kids

11. How dads need to care for their
own emotional health through
COVID-19
• Regularly connect with other men!
• Establish, maintain a routine
• Identify ways to distract yourself from your
problems
• Try to regularly exercise
• Seek help from your PCP or mental health
professional if:
• Thoughts of suicide
• Changes in sleep, eating, energy, concentration, sex
drive, ability to experience pleasure
• Anxiety impacting work, family responsibilities

12. keyministry.org
• Training
• Conferences
• Video training
• Roundtables
• Consultation to churches
• Resources
• Not Alone
• Special Needs Parenting
E-mail: steve@keyministry.org
Twitter: @drgrcevich
LinkedIn: /in/stephen-grcevich-md/