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Transcript/ScriptLingering Pandemic Takes Toll On Americans’ Mental Health
DATE: 02/16/2022
PUBLISHED AT: 2/17/2022 at 3:30pm
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
EDITORS: KE(1st), MAS
VIDEOGRAPHER: Aleksandr Bergan
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA & News Agencies TBA
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 3:46
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: EDS/PRODUCERS: All Zoom interviews in this piece were conducted on a personal computer per Anna Rice so they are cleared for use.))
((INTRO:))
[[After two years, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be taking a toll on Americans’ mental health, with a growing number of people suffering from a wide array of issues, from anxiety to depression. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: COVID-19 Long Haulers Support + Facebook Logo))
Nearly two years of pandemic isolation and illness have taken
((End courtesy))
their toll, not only in deaths and lingering symptoms but also in our heads.
((Nirmita Panchal, Kaiser Family Foundation))
((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“Prior to the pandemic there were around one in ten adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorder. And now our most recent research shows that around 3 in 10 adults are reporting these symptoms.”
((NARRATION))
Working adults, the ones with the most responsibilities during the pandemic, seem to be the ones affected most.
((Lisa Brown, Trauma Program Director at Palo Alto University))
((Mandatory Zoom))
“We often refer to them as sort of a sandwich generation because they're stuck between children and teenagers – and then their parents. And they're basically having to try to juggle working with caring for their parents who have more needs now because of their social isolation, as well as their children. And maybe they're educating their children on-and-off at home and trying to manage their social lives.”
((NARRATION))
But really psychologists say… the pandemic has affected everyone.
An overwhelming majority of Americans have a close relative or friend who has either died of COVID or has had a very severe case; many have lost their jobs; children miss spending time with their peers and teenagers are likely to miss out on their school proms; divorce rates are up.
Experts call all this collective trauma, and one of the main reasons behind it is uncertainty.
((Roxane Cohen Silver, Trauma Researcher at the University of California, Irvine))
((Mandatory Zoom))
“When the September 11th terrorist attacks occurred, or there is a hurricane or a tornado, there is a date when it started and stopped. And what people do in the aftermath is pick up the pieces, try to rebuild their lives, try to emotionally recover from the event. And from what we're seeing here, we didn't have a clear start, we don't have a clear stop, this is chronic stress.”
((NARRATION))
Experts say standard ways to fight anxiety don’t really work in this case. Advice that’s often given to people feeling down – like meeting with
((Mandatory courtesy: Reuters))
friends more, traveling, visiting parents and exploring new places are simply not safe during the pandemic.
((End courtesy))
((Cheryl Carmin, Anxiety Researcher at Ohio State University))
((Mandatory Zoom))
“And how do you do that when the information that comes from the CDC or other informed individuals or regulatory bodies is like – ‘Don't go to crowded places! If you love music, don't go to a concert, don't go to the movies, don't go to church or the synagogue!’ Because those are places where people congregate. And while this may be helpful in terms of you dealing with all of what's going on with the pandemic, but those resources aren't there.”
((NARRATION))
Psychologists themselves are experiencing the same difficulties as everyone else. Trauma expert, Professor Lisa Brown of Palo Alto University, says she tries to connect with friends and loved ones as much as possible.
((Lisa Brown, Trauma Program Director at Palo Alto University))
“This is the time to reach out to others. You know, I've had a lot of friends from college that I haven't talked to in a long time, and they call me. And it really makes me feel excited and happy. I'm thrilled to death that they made that effort to call me. Let's call each other. Let's stay in touch. Let's send each other a letter!”
((NARRATION))
But experts say the trauma will not end suddenly, even if COVID-19 restrictions are lifted soon. They say for many people, it will take years to deal with the pandemic’s psychological impact.
Lesia Bakalets in Washington, Anna Rice,
VOA News
NewsML Media TopicsSociety, Health, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D.C.
Embargo DateFebruary 16, 2022 19:32 EST
BylineLesia Bakalets
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
