A call to action
As mental health clinicians, we need to proactively engage with our patients to develop a plan to strengthen their social support systems. This may mean suggesting that they stay in contact with their network of people via video conferencing or by using the phone. We need to identify high-risk patients and continue to provide treatment via telepsychiatry. This is especially necessary to prevent relapse among patients with SUDs or mood disorders, and to minimize the risk of suicide.
We are ethically required to provide an atmosphere of trust, safety, and social inclusion by using resources, such as telehealth, video conferencing, and other online tools, to ameliorate the short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 isolation. Providing avenues that are easily accessible, are supportive, and maintain standards of care are essential. These resources should be implemented as early as possible to avoid negative outcomes regarding both COVID-19 and mental health.
There is also a significant risk that once circumstances improve, there will be a surge in the number of patients seeking a higher level of mental health care. Our actions and preparedness today will define the trajectory of our patients’ mental health in the future, potentially for years to come. While presently we are forced to be reactive, hopefully what is borne out of this crisis will translate into proactive measures for future crises.
Let this brief commentary serve as a call to action. As society finds ways to work from home, mental health clinicians need to lead the charge to use these same technologies to increase our patients’ social interactions. If we do not find ways to address the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, who will? We are all part of the mental health community, and we need to continue to function as an organized group, as has been the natural state of human beings for thousands of years.
Bottom Line
The social isolation required to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is likely to increase loneliness, particularly among vulnerable patients with mood disorders and/or substance use disorders. As mental health clinicians, we need to work to strengthen our patients’ social support systems using resources such as video conferencing and other technologies.
Related Resources
- Cacioppo S, Grippo AJ, London S, et al. Loneliness: clinical import and interventions. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):238-249.
- Geriatric loneliness with Dr. Steven Wengel. Psychcast (podcast). https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts/psychcast/geriatricloneliness-dr-steven-wengel. Published April 1, 2020.