They included the following graphic in the announcement post.
According to the We Love EM survey, 21.8% of Eagle Mountain Residents indicated “I do not have access to services or know how to get help”. Eagle Mountain is doing better than the rest of the nattion according to data collected by the CDC. The CDC in a study released by CNN in September 2020 stated that mental health during the pandemic is affecting a large portion of the population. “A new CDC survey found that almost 41% of respondents are struggling with mental health issues stemming from the pandemic — both related to the coronavirus pandemic itself and the measures put in place to contain it, including physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.” The article also showed the following:
- 31% said they’d experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression,
- 26% said they’d experienced trauma or stressor-related disorder symptoms,
- 13% said they’d started or increased substance use,
- 11% said they’d seriously considered suicide in the last 30 days.
- 18 to 24 years old, at 75%;
- unpaid caregivers of adults, at 67%;
- reporting they had less than a high school diploma, at 66%;
- essential workers, at 54%;
- 25 to 44 years old, at 52%.
I currently work at a skilled nursing/long term care facility. I work with some of the sickest and weak people you will ever see. I have never been considered a front-line worker because I have never had to deal with COVID directly but I have had to work with all the mental Side effects that COVID had brought on. My building has been on lockdown since March, meaning we are now going onto our 7th month without families in the building, without residents going out into the public unless for doctors appointments. That means countless birthdays, a total of 5 big holidays have been spent without families. (St Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July) and we are coming up on some of the most important holidays of the year and they will be celebrated without families. On top of no families, They have very limited activities. (I am the activity director at my building) in the beginning, there was no activities at all. Usually, there was 5+ a day. Eventually, we could do activities, but social distancing with masks on and only a certain number of people in one activity at a time. (They have to wear masks in a place that is considered their home) The hardest part is that those activities could be taken away at any time. If we had anyone that tests positive (resident or worker) they were taken away without notice. That is what has happened now. Nothing is normal for them. They can’t even sit at the same table as another person for meals. They sit alone to eat.
Most people have technology where they can call, text, FaceTime, and zoom these people are the elderly. Most of them don’t have phones, they have no idea how to use any kind of technology. I am able to set up zoom calls with families, but I have 70+ residents in my building at a time. I only work 9-5 and I am only one person. I do zoom calls all week long every day. And it is never enough. Zoom also doesn’t work for some people, I have residents who can’t see or hear, I have one who is very hard of hearing so I sit next to him and type everything his family says so that he can actually talk to them and understand what they are saying. Most of the times my residents don’t understand why all of this is happening. 50% of them know what COVID is. We have people with a lot of different cognitive issues, so even if we do explain it to them either they don’t understand or forget by the next day. Some watch the news and some don’t. Some just don’t know why their families haven’t come in. One resident I had thought their family moved back to his home country without telling him, because that is the only reason that made sense to him on why they wouldn’t come in a see him. On top of all of this they have to get tested for COVID once a week. So once a week they get to have their brains poked. They get the test that everyone hates and complains about and says it hurts. They get that test once a week. Not my facilities choice, but because we had one case in our building and that is what the CDC and state requires. It’s hard and tiring to be the only person remotely close to being family for 70+ people. But I have the luxury of going home to my husband every night. I have the luxury of going shopping or going out when I want, even if I have to wear a mask. They don’t, some spouses have been separated for the entirety of COVID. I have to do the shopping for my residents. They can’t even do that.
She ends with this final plea, “I don’t care if you think COVID is a real thing or not or if it is political or not. I’m just saying the facts. So as holidays start and you have the choice to go to family parties or see families over zoom. And leave your house. Please think of those you don’t get any of that. Who don’t get a choice at all and who have never had COVID but are struggling mentally and physically because of the restrictions COVID has put on their lives.”
Additional Mental and Emotional Health Statistics
The following three tables were generated from the data collected via a GRAMA request for the survey results. [visualizer id=”18749″] [visualizer id=”18752″] [visualizer id=”18761″]
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.