PEOPLE Rebecca Farrell
2022 HEALTH CARE EDITION
BY JISHNU NAIR
THE DOCTOR IS ONLINE Telehealth usage increased during the pandemic, but usage was not equitable across all populations in 2021. Percentages below show the percentage of groups utilizing telemedicine.
Program and outreach director, Central Texas National Alliance on Mental Illness
Rebecca Farrell serves as the program and outreach director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Central Texas a liate. The national nonpro t, which has over 600 state organizations and a liates across the United States, works to educate and provide resources on mental health. Farrell said the pandemic laid bare existing de ciencies in mental health care. But as mental health came to the forefront in the pandemic, conversations about mental health became more “mainstream”—which she hopes will lead to greater education on mental illnesses. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. WHAT DOES THE STATE OF
TELEHEALTH WAS MOST USED BY
TELEHEALTH USE WAS LEAST USED BY
Those without a high school diploma 38.1%
The 18-24 age group 72.5%
Those making at least $100,000 68.8%
The 65 and older age group 43.5%
Black individuals 53.6% Asian individuals 51.3% Latin individuals 50.7%
Those with private insurance 65.9%
overall, the suicide rates are higher amongst white males who are older as well. … Males will have died by suicide at a higher rate than females; however, females are more likely to … attempt suicide. And we are seeing a rise in suicide attempts by African American females and also from our children who identify as LGBTQ. WHAT ARE SOME BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CARE? So when we look at access to care, we want to look at what’s available … instead of quality. The second aspect we consider is of those providers, how many actually look like individuals who are seeking [care] back home? So we know that [Black, indigenous and people of color] members are less likely to seek help, even if it exists, because they may not have a provider who looks like them. … The other reasons that we have a lack of access to health care is insurance. … If you are underinsured, then you’re really limited in the scope of where you can go and receive [care], or even if you don’t have insurance [you’re] really limited. And how many geographical locations or communities o er free health care or have free health care clinics? And then, if you have Medicaid, you know, certain health care systems have a cap on how many Medicaid patients they will accept, you know, and so even having insurance may hinder your ability to receive care, because the providers may not accept those insurances. HOW HAS THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HEALTH CHANGED? If we do try to look at silver linings, our experiences of the pandemic has opened the door more in terms
White individuals 61.9%
MENTAL HEALTH CARE LOOK LIKE TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC? So the pandemic really has brought to light two primary issues. The rst one is how extensive the gaps in our health care systems are, and then the second—which people might not have been aware of—is how we lack the support and resources for addressing our youth and adolescents’ mental health. … And with that, what we have noticed is that there’s been an increase in the number of ER visits, especially amongst our youth and adolescents. … Since 2017, suicide has become the eighth leading cause of death for our children ages 5-11, and it is the second leading cause of death for our youth ages 10-24 since 2018. … So when we look at our health care providers, … what we have wit- nessed during the pandemic is higher, higher levels of empathy fatigue, … And so we have noticed that people are mass-exiting their places of employment, because they’re expe- riencing so much emotional distress, anxiety and depression. … We see long waitlists, because things have moved to telehealth. … What we also noticed when the pandemic hit was that there was a dramatic change in mental health assistance, and then also we saw an increase in mental health, emer- gency consultations and in-home care as well. WHAT POPULATIONS ARE HIT THE HARDEST BY THE PANDEMIC AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH? We know that suicide rates are higher amongst males. And then also,
SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF PLANNING AND EVALUATION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT REALLY EXPOSED WHAT WE ARE LACKING IN OUR SYSTEM. ” REBECCA FARRELL, PROGRAM AND OUTREACH DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, CENTRAL TEXAS
diagnostic criteria, characteristics of very individual lives. So depression may not look the same between two people, because it’s personal. … And then I like to share with people to remember our ABCs, … so being able to identify di erent types of strategies based on the letters of the alphabet. … Establish those routines; main- tain those routines. And then focus on what you can control, and spend time with your friends and family. Route yourself. Give yourself grace. And then I like to say, humor—let’s laugh. I think sometimes we forget to nd humor, to laugh. … … The other thing that they can do is contact … the closest [NAMI] a l- iate. … We are a vital resource, and we provide resources and programs, education support and advocacy for free to those who participate, who partake in them. … And, nally, it’s OK to ask for help—to accept that it is OK to ask for help. And then it is OK to not be OK.
of being able to talk about mental health, about normalizing conversa- tions about mental health. … And then also, we’re beginning to talk about how mental health is really connected to our physical health. So being able to say mental health is health. … We are seeing more people wanting to learn about mental health conditions. … They want to have a better understand- ing of what they are experiencing internally, if they’re having mental health conditions. … If a loved one or friend or coworker is experiencing mental health conditions and is act- ing di erently, they want to have a better understanding and knowledge base of what is going on. SPEAKING OF SELF CARE, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES? It’s important for us to understand how stress a ects us, share similar
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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