With COVID cases dwindling, more employers are asking workers to return to the office for the first time since the pandemic began, and mental health professionals have said there are ways to manage the stress and anxiety of this big change.

Rates of anxiety and depression among American adults were four times higher between April 2020 and August 2021 than they were in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr Hillary Ammon, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, said a change in routine, like where you work, can be stressful, but there are ways to deal with those feelings. .

“What I would recommend is that people start trying to get into some of these routines that might feel like the workplace,” Ammon advised. “So if that’s really the case, you know, you have a very structured workday and you’ve had more flexibility working from home, can you try to structure your day to be more like this working environment ?”

Ammon suggested practicing driving or taking public transportation to make your return to work easier, as well as meal planning and preparation.

Dr. Nicole Brady, UnitedHealthcare’s chief employer and individual business physician in Wisconsin and Michigan, said fears of catching COVID in the office can also be a trigger for stress. She urged having an open line of communication with your employer about the protocols in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We all know that masks are effective and are certainly reasonable at all times, regardless of the levels in your community at the time,” Brady pointed out. “We know that vaccines are very effective in preventing infection.”

Other tips include suggesting staggered working hours or days to your manager, to limit the number of people in the office at the same time. The CDC recommends employees with symptoms of COVID notify their supervisors, get tested, and stay home until they feel better.

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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed Americans’ stress levels higher than ever, according to a new survey from the American Psychological Association (APA).

In recent years, most US residents have cited the pandemic, money, work and the economy as the top stressors. Now they say the scenes of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have pushed their stress levels even higher.

Lynn Bufka, a clinical psychologist and member of the APA, said the organization conducted a poll in February ahead of the second anniversary of the pandemic, then polled people again in early March, particularly about the war in Europe. .

“We found that two-thirds or more are concerned about the economy, money, work,” Bufka pointed out. “And then 80% or more of our respondents said they were very concerned about what is happening in Ukraine.”

Bufka pointed out that the APA typically doesn’t see such a high percentage of people citing the same stressor. She added that the highest levels of stress previously reported in surveys were during the 2008 recession. The March poll surveyed just over 2,000 adults.

Bufka noted that people’s report of stress is a normal response to an abnormal situation. She reported at all levels that the possibility of nuclear war was of particular concern to those interviewed.

“It’s younger adults, older adults, people of color, men, women,” Bufka explained. “The fact that we’re seeing such a large proportion of the population also telling us that it’s very stressful is different from just six months ago.”

Regarding the pandemic, Bufka pointed out that it has been especially difficult for parents, as they try to manage their own concerns and also protect and nurture their children.

“The mental, emotional and internal resources available to handle all the demands are stretched thin for parents,” Bufka observed. “It’s been quite overwhelming for the parents, in particular.”

In addition to parents, Bufka pointed out that immigrants who fled a European conflict or veterans who served in wars abroad say they are particularly stressed by the Ukrainian conflict.

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The school year is winding down for students, and some in South Dakota might notice a more responsive campus in terms of suicide prevention when they return this fall.

A new program will help schools assess mental health resources. For nearly 12 years, the Lost & Found group has conducted suicide prevention programs for young adults in South Dakota. It now offers a Campus Resilience Index, where a scorecard presents the prevention capacity of participating schools.

Erik Muckey, executive director of the Lost & Found group, said the tool allows administrators to see where they might have strengths, as well as gaps.

“What successful results from this index might look like is definitely more advisors,” Muckey pointed out. “But the other aspect is also very training-oriented: how many students are trained to provide peer support?”

To measure each school, the index uses a CDC model detailing suicide prevention strategies for campuses.

Muckey noted that they are currently preparing recommendations for one school and soon hope to assess up to eight other campuses in South Dakota and Minnesota. State health officials say the age group with the highest suicide rate is 20-29.

National surveys indicate a growing number of students reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety. Muckey added that the pandemic has brought more stress at a time when young adults are trying to adjust to college life.

“Especially for students who are first-generation students or for students who may already be exhibiting mental health issues before they arrive on campus,” Muckey pointed out. “All of these factors, connected, all contribute to this underlying problem.”

He feared that the effects of social media, such as isolation, were also a contributing factor. Efforts to expand the Campus Resilience Index recently received a boost with a new grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation.

Support for this report was provided by Lumina Foundation.

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Iowa is considering proposals to address access issues for people seeking mental health care. And it’s not just lobbyists who meet legislators; more and more people are choosing to become spokespersons for the first time and share their stories.

The pandemic has shone a spotlight on mental health issues, and providers across the country are reporting increased demand for services as people talk about what they’re going through. Jennifer Thompson of Des Moines recently met with policy makers and spoke to them about her struggles with bipolar disorder and addiction.

“I’m a dual diagnosis patient, and it’s huge for me to be able to say that,” she said, “and hopefully I can be someone that others can look up and say: “Hey, if she can do it, I can do it too.'”

Thompson participated in a “Day on the Hill,” led by the Iowa Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI officials said they hoped lawmakers would not lose sight of the need to support mental health services after approving a major funding change last year. To fill staffing gaps, a bill this session would create dozens of psychiatric residences in public facilities and care centers.

Urbandale’s Amy Bassett said she decided to speak out after watching mental health affect her husband and adult children for many years. Pushing for more residential care services, she said there was sometimes suffering before her loved ones got the help they needed. Bassett said she wanted to make sure this didn’t happen to other families.

“It fills my cup to be able to say, ‘I can help other people’; to make it a little easier for them to get what they need,” she said.

Although she found the courage to engage with policymakers, Bassett said, other families may not receive the attention they need, even with greater awareness.

“There are a lot of people here who are really struggling,” she said, “and really need everything we can to improve their lives.”

In national rankings, Iowa is near the bottom in terms of psychiatrists per capita.

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