Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a Proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month calling upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Connecticut to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health. He reiterated his support for mental health supports, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions.
“During the pandemic our physical health took center stage. Throughout 2020, I and mental health leaders encouraged all of us to pay attention to the impact of social isolation and emotional distress,” Gov. Lamont said “Now, more than ever, is the time to make mental health a priority. As the world opens up and yet another new normal is created before our eyes, I urge you and your families to take this time to create a preventative plan for self-care and support to ensure that we invest in our long-term mental wellness.”
Connecticut residents have experienced the effects of physical distancing, stress, and possibly more serious mental health and substance use challenges as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Social unrest and the essential work that’s being done to address systemic racism and improve equity are causing triggering experiences for people of color and those in traditionally disenfranchised populations.
According to newly released report from the Government Accountability Office, “Up to 4 in 10 adults on average reported anxiety or depression symptoms during the pandemic, the report showed, compared with about 1 in 10 adults in early 2019. During the first seven months of the pandemic, there were 36% more emergency room visits for drug overdoses, and 26% more visits for suicide attempts, compared with the same period in 2019.”
“I encourage all Connecticut residents to take advantage of our state’s federally-funded COACH program, which stands for ‘COVID-19 Assistance for Community Health.’ COACH is staffed with trained support professionals who can connect you with resources to keep your family safe and healthy, or who can listen if you want to talk with someone about how this pandemic is affecting you. Every step we take to seek help for ourselves or friends and family improves our ability to increase resiliency and wellness,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Commissioner of Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
Call 877-918-2224 or go to https://ctstronger.org/coach to get started.
“This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight against systemic racism and oppression has had a profound impact on our mental health. At MHC, we see every day that one of the best defenses against struggling with our mental health is to invest in self-care and resiliency. It’s clear that Governor Lamont and others recognize the importance of preventative measures for our health, which is critical now more than ever,” said Luis B. Perez, President & CEO of Mental Health Connecticut.
According to Mental Health America (MHA) in their 2021 State of Mental Health in America, “The number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed, with a 93 percent increase over the 2019 total number of anxiety health screens and a 62 percent increase over the 2019 total number of depression health screens. Even before COVID-19, the prevalence of mental illness among adults was increasing. In 2017-2018, 19% of adults experienced a mental illness, an increase of 1.5 million people over last year’s dataset.”
