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COVID-19 and Women’s Mental Health

     “A survey of 3,200 women was done on women over the age of 18 from April 10-24, 2020 by the University of Chicago School of Medicine. 40% of participants reported experiencing at least one health related socioeconomic risk (HRSR) during the year prior to the pandemic, which included food insecurity, housing instability, difficulties with their utilities, transportation challenges and interpersonal violence; 22% reported experiencing two or more HRSR’s during the year before the pandemic.

     But by the first spring of the pandemic, nearly half of all women-including 29% of those who did not experience pre-pandemic HRSRs-reported new (incident) or worsening HRSRs. The greatest challenge was an increase in food insecurity. Nearly 80% of those without pre-pandemic HRSRs who reported a new HRSR became food insecure. Almost a quarter experienced interpersonal violence.”

     Other studies have found evidence for higher rates of anxiety and depression and related issues, such as alcohol overuse connected to the pandemic. The women who experienced at least one new or worsening HRSR were significantly higher risk of experiencing anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

     “Given very high rates of these problems, we’re really concerned about the current capacity of our mental health system,” said co-author Marie Tobin, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at University of Chicago Medicine. “Women are principally responsible for parenting, family caregiving and other essential work- they are key to managing and recovering from this pandemic, and are afflicted by very significant socioeconomic risk levels that socioeconomically vulnerable women are at high risk for developing pandemic-related psychiatric morbidity.”

     Dr. Stacy Lindau is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine-Geriatrics at University of Chicago Medicine. She said, “We can’t change a person’s gender, but we can act to ensure that all people have basic nutrition and shelter they need to survive. We can intervene on transportation barriers, we can pass polices to delay or offset rent or utilities payments. These are modifiable factors that can be addressed by leveraging the humanitarian resources of our communities and implementing policies that ensure everyone can live independently with their basic needs met. Ensuring equitable access to the basics would be a powerful buffer against mental illness in general and could help mitigate costly and painful mental health crisis among women and everyone who depends on us in the context of this and other public health emergencies.”

     The pandemic has impacted more women’s mental health than men. Because women represent the majority of the health workforce. When women quarantine they feel isolated, lost, and scared. The number of women who reported mental health impacts from COVID-19 was threefold that of men. There is increased incidents of domestic violence. Because of the violence and stress many women are experiencing past-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Women have the mental health hardship related to family stress. Schools are rapidly opening and closing, many mothers have had disproportionately more stress and responsibilities, including home-schooling children, all while managing their own psychological responses.

     Telehealth has become the new normal as an alternative to in-person services which is convenient for many people. However, a disproportionate number of people in the lower socioeconomic strata of our society do not have access to the internet which prevents them from getting mental health services. AS a result, hotline services are their only option to get help. This cannot replace long-term counseling services which is a necessity.

     “During this difficult time of living in a pandemic, with stress running high, it is more important than ever to take care of your physical and mental health. Activities such as exercise, listening to music, talking to a therapist, journling, and developing a consistent sleep routine are ways you can better both your physical and mental health. If we can hold ourselves accountable, we will succeed- because, not only has  COVID-19 shown what grief, loss, and isolation look like; it has also presented how essential unity, community, and solidarity is in these trying times (socially distanced, of course)!”

Signed: Renee D. Warring of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries

RESOURCES:

https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/research-and-discoveries-articles/women-and-mental-health-in-the-pandemic-study

https://www.baylor.edu/communityconnection/news.php?action=story&story=222809#:~:text=Because%20of%20the%20violence%20and,been%20related%20to%20family%20stress.