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Our view: Local mental health hotline offers help, hope

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal - 1/28/2021

The physical impacts of the ongoing pandemic continue to be well-documented. The loss of lives and livelihoods is staggering. Economic recovery remains wobbly, and for more than 10 months, people have been told to stay at least 6 feet away from others.

For those who remember the pre-pandemic world, life wasn’t exactly stress-free then. The challenges were different but, for the most part, they involved factors people could control. That changed last March when much of the country shut down to slow the spread of the virus with people thrown out of work and students moved out of schools.

Less clear but equally important is the impact COVID-19 continues to have on people’s mental health. Virtual classes and virtual workplaces have deprived people of all ages of regular social interactions, routines and a much-needed sense of community and connection. Statistics indicate alcohol and drug use has increased as have insomnia and anxiety. Experts worry about increases in domestic violence and abuse and neglect of children.

Isolation has led to loneliness, which has led to despair, and grief-stricken desperate people have had fewer places to turn for help. According to a recent World Health Organization survey, the pandemic has “disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health services is increasing.”

Complicating matters is simple access of such resources. Those who have the financial means will be able to connect with and afford such services while others will not.

January has been designated Mental Wellness Month, and toward that end, the local organization StarCare is encouraging people to devote time each day to mental wellness. They’re offering a dedicated hotline to help.

According to our recent story, the StarCare COVID-19 Mental Health Hotline will be manned from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The number is (806) 740-1450, and people also can opt-in to receive COVID-related information via text by texting “StarCare” to 67634.

As public health experts have said, the nation will remain in the grip of the virus for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, StarCare recommends that people maintain a regular schedule that includes staying active, that they remain connected to family, friends and loved ones with available technology, keep a positive attitude and pay attention to sleep patterns and daily diet. These are proven steps to help combat mental illness symptoms, manage stress and improve one’s personal well-being.

We understand this is not an easy time, and people need to take care of themselves emotionally without feeling guilty or judged. The anonymous hotline offers a pathway to help and hope for anyone who feels in need. They can speak to a qualified mental health professional who can connect them with confidential services and offer help for dealing with stress and anxiety.

“Our hotline can be a resource for people to decide the next steps they will take through offering both referrals to the community resources and strategies for coping with anxiety, depression and stress,” Stephanie King, crisis counseling program counselor, said in our story. “Sometimes, all a person needs is someone to listen to their concerns and help them see there is hope.”

We couldn’t agree more and express our appreciation to StarCare for its community commitment to mental health.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Our view: Local mental health hotline offers help, hope

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