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Mental health is important during the pandemic

With everything going, especially dealing with COVID-19 and the pandemic, we need to make sure we take care of our mental health. The unprecedented nature of the pandemic has affected people in many unexpected ways.

According to the New York Times, more than 100,000 Americans have died from an overdose in the 12-month period that ended in April, and this has doubled since 2015. During the year, use of prescription pain medication, cocaine, methamphetamine, natural and semisynthetic opioids have also increased.

Due to the lock down, anxiety and depression have increased along with the postponement of treatment for substance abuse disorder. According to the New York Times, about 70% of the majority of the deaths were men aged 25 to 54.

Before the pandemic from January to June 2019, 11% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder, while in January 2021, the percentage had increased to 41.1%, according to Kaiser Family Foundation.

From the age of 18 to 24, 56.2% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic. Of adults older than 65, there was 29.3% reported anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic.

According to the Associated Press, the number of overdose deaths changed by 47.85% in California. In April 2020, there were 7,162 deaths, while in April 2021, there were 10,585 deaths. In Oregon, the number of overdose deaths changed 45.1% , and from April 2020 to 2021, the death rate increased by 292.

According to MedlinePlus, staying positive, practicing gratitude, taking care of your physical health, connecting with others, developing a purpose or meaning in life, developing coping mechanisms, mediation, and relaxation techniques are ways you can improve your health.

Some helpful tips to help boost your health are by taking care of your body physically like eating healthy, exercising, getting the amount of sleep you need, less intake of caffeine and talking to someone. 

By doing yoga, it will help you with your breathing and will help to lower your stress levels. Yoga can also help you physically due to having less injuries. You can do some breathing mechanism like counting. By journaling your feelings can also help you improve your mental health.   

For additional resources, students can talk to the Counseling and Psychological Services on campus at 909-448-4105 or online at laverne.edu/counseling.

If you feel like you are in crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

With the overdose rates increasing, and the connection between mental health and addiction, it is important to take care of yourself.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

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