|
We all love a good movie. Whether you enjoy cuddling up to a sappy rom-com, a belly-aching comedy, or a suspenseful thriller, movies become an integral part of the human experience. They can spark emotional responses, make us laugh, cry, get angry, and even keep us up at night to make sure a ghost doesn’t creep out of a dark corner. They can create huge followings, establishing friendships (and even foes) amongst their fanbase. Movies also have a spectacular ability to communicate to the masses. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, people have access to an unimaginable amount of content at their fingertips. With such a large platform, it is important to critically analyze the content we are given. So you may be wondering, what does this have to do with mental health? Themes of mental health have always held a presence in cinema. Turns out, mental health (and the barriers that coincide with a diagnosis) make for a great story! But the question is, do movie representations of mental health help or hurt those it portrays? Well fellow movie-goer, I will let you decide. But let’s bring some examples to the conversation. In 1994, Forrest Gump was released and to this day remains a beloved story about a man that creates a meaningful life in the most interesting ways. Though it was not explicitly stated, it is implied that the main protagonist, Forrest, lives with a developmental disability. Though I personally cannot speak for the views of this community, I would like to offer my critiques. First, I think it is commendable to portray an individual living with disabilities with many successful endeavors. However, I am hesitant to give my full approval since the character is not played by an individual living with this diagnosis. On a scale from helpful to hurtful, I give Forrest Gump a solid ‘neutral’ since the movie has both pros and cons in regards to mental health. In 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street was released, captivating the ups and downs of a manipulative, money-hungry stock broker. The movie presented a number of stressful themes, such as heavy substance abuse, unhealthy relationships, and overall “bad behavior.” Though a mental health diagnosis was never stated, the lead character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, shows signs of narcissistic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and a number of substance-related addictive disorders. Even with these personality traits, this movie somehow became a hit. Though I recognize the movie’s cinematic value, I believe it unapologetically romanticizes behaviors that are detrimental to the self. In a way, the movie makes it seem like this lifestyle is desirable, leading me to rank it on the hurtful side of the scale. Finally, a movie that always comes up in this discussion: Silver Linings Playbook (2012). This movie tells the story of a tumultuous relationship between Pat and Tiffany, an unlikely pair of adults struggling to navigate their lives. Pat, played by Bradley Cooper, is recently released from a mental health facility due to a violent manic episode. This behavior is oftentimes associated with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Tiffany, played by Jennifer Lawrence, displays harsh “ups and downs,” difficulty in relationships, and a fleeting self esteem. Though not outrightly mentioned, many critics have narrowed down her diagnosis to depression or borderline personality disorder. From a psychological perspective, it can be argued that this movie is realistic in its representation of these mental health disorders. It shows that individuals living with these diagnoses have both good and bad days, are capable of meaningful relationships, and can achieve anything with positive support systems. On the other hand, the movie heavily romanticized the unhealthy relationship, poor communication, and manipulative behaviors between the two leading characters. Because of these pros and cons, this movie lands on neutral on the scale of helping or hurting; it definitely brought more awareness to the presented mental health disorders. However, I strongly suggest viewing this movie with a critical eye and with the intention of furthering your own education on mental health once it's finished. Since movies tend to depict a level of reality, what do you think the portrayal of mental health disorders says about deeper issues within our culture? Does it imply that individuals with mental health diagnoses are a form of entertainment for others? Or are movies sincerely trying to raise awareness through their platform? Thankfully, viewers like you and me, have a say! It is up to us to think beyond the movie material we are presented. We decide whether or not a character with a mental health diagnosis will form our views on an entire population of people, or open the door to further educating ourselves towards awareness, tolerance, and acceptance.
1 Comment
SPEAK is a weekly resource provided to Students, Parents, Educators, and Administrators. It allows all stakeholders to participate in the social, emotional, and academic well-being of a child and then in return apply the Knowledge to ensure a purposeful and successful school year with compassion. Therefore, I ask the question, “What are you SPEAKing to and with your students and children?” SPEAK to your children and or students about getting in the habit of daily routines, apply and practice them daily until it becomes a habit, and watch how your child develops into a successful student academically and socially. “The secret of your child's success is established in the daily routines that are in place. Establish purposeful routines that will lead to intentional success.” - Dr. Tasheka L. Green Develop a SLEEP routine with a consistent bedtime… The National Foundation of Sleep, depending on the child's age range, recommends anywhere from 8 to 13 hours of sleep per night. Discuss with your child to develop an established bedtime that allows him or her to have the recommended hours of sleep. Practice the bedtime 3-4 weeks before the start of the new school year. Adhere to the established bedtime every night, even on the weekends. The key is being consistent with bedtime seven days a week. Develop HEALTHY EATING habits… Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states healthy eating habits promote growth and cognitive development. Proper intellectual development results in your child performing at his or her greatest potential. Developing healthy eating habits includes eating a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as providing your child with healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water. United States Department of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Agriculture 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans at a Glance, emphasizes taking the recommended servings of fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy, grains, and oils promote healthy eating patterns. ELIMINATE the usage of television, video games, and technology… Monitor, limit, or eliminate television, video games, and pleasurable use of technology during the school year. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides recommended guidelines for screen time. During the school weekday, consider having your child eliminate the use of these devices and use them as a privilege or reward. Too much screen time during the weekday can become overstimulating, distracting, and replace the conversation needed with your child to promote higher levels of cognitive development. Develop BEFORE and AFTER school routines… How your child prepares for his or her day impacts what transpires throughout the day. How your child ends his or her day influences the behaviors that are exhibited at home. Develop, write, communicate, and post step-by-step routines for before and after school. Make sure the routines are concise and clearly communicate the expectations. Adhere and be consistent with the established before and after school routines. If the before and after routines are not working well, make the adjustments needed to ensure a smooth and effortless daily routine. Remember, routines build habits, habits build character, and character builds SUCCESS! To Everything There Is A Season Learning Academy and Consultant, “Where children grow and adults sow!” - Dr. Tasheka L. Green   I think we all know the drill by now. After almost a year of surviving a global pandemic, we have learned to adjust to the new norms of social distancing, limited gatherings, sanitizing everything, and wearing masks. And while these are all important for slowing the spread of COVID-19, it is also important to recognize the negative impact that isolating behaviors can have on mental health. A report from the American Psychological Association noted that social isolation, especially over long periods of time can lead to loneliness, increased levels of stress, poor sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. Loneliness over time can also lower immune system functioning, and other adverse health outcomes. In an effort to minimize the erosive effects that isolation can have as the global pandemic stretches on, we may have to be a little more creative in the ways that we choose to connect with each other. The world is changing, and that simply means that we have to change with it. Here are three ways that each of us can curb loneliness and stay connected in a world of social distancing:  Phone a Friend One of the unique aspects of living through a global pandemic, is that to some degree we are all experiencing this together. Whether you’re working from home, taking care of kids who attend school virtually, or minimizing contact with the public for health reasons, you may find that keeping in contact with friends and family requires some creative effort. It may even fall lower on the priority list. But you may be surprised at the benefits taking just five to ten minutes to talk with a loved one, over FaceTime, or Zoom or by other means. When we are isolated, it can be easy to think that we are the only ones feeling what we are feeling. It can feel as though everyone else has it together, and we are the only ones struggling. By taking a chance and opening up to someone about the challenges you are facing, it’s likely that their experience will mirror yours in some way. This crisis is still ongoing and we are all handling it in the ways we know best.  Join a Facebook Group or Community If you were not aware before, Facebook has public and private groups that you can join for just about anything. There are groups for specific interests and hobbies, groups that discuss popular television shows, groups for singles, men, women, groups for those who want to advance in their career, and the list goes on! Some of these groups have thousands of members and host weekly activities, discussions, and virtual meet-ups. Whatever your interests are, there is probably a Facebook group for you! Though it is not the same as meeting people in person, these are often great forums for community, connection, and learning new things. If you don’t like Facebook, there is also an app called Meetup which used to be for in-person gatherings based on interests, but many of these groups have transitioned to virtual meetings.  Host a Watch Party
Many streaming platforms have introduced features that allow you to stream movies and television shows simultaneously from separate locations. Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix have a “Watch Party” feature where you can invite other subscription holders to watch content with you at the same time. There is also a browser extension called “Sceener” which includes special features like video chatting, easy transitions between streaming services, and a feature that allows you to “pass the remote” to another user. For those who want to host a watch party for people who do not have paid accounts, you can host a watch party on Zoom by sharing your screen.  Hi and welcome! I’m a professional organizer in San Antonio, Texas with some not so ordinary tips on getting your life a little more organized right now. I don’t know about you, but all those lists of life hacks, organizing hacks, things we should be eating, not eating, and cleaning, not cleaning, wear me out. They have great intentions, tend to be very specific, short and sweet, but it is overwhelming to think I need to add more things to my “To Do” list. While thinking of how to approach this blog post, I thought and thought about what advice a professional organizer had to share that would help you spark some joy in your mind and in your spaces. That’s when it hit me. I spend hours and hours with clients undoing what they have done. The messes they have are often a reflection of what they feel inside. This can be anxiety, depression, it can be a battle with ADHD that limits their ability to focus on cleaning up one area for more than a few minutes. Whatever the reason is, for our spaces to go from clutter to clarity again it sometimes takes a professional organizer to help sort it out.
Professional organizers work hard, entirely packed dirty garages to tidy, functionable-garage hard. We earn a client’s hard-earned money to undo their messes and while I love what I do for them, I may be able to save you from ever needing one just by tweaking the way you think about a few things. I am challenging you to create your Undo List with the help of some undo items below. My message to you this week, this month, and this year, is to spend some time undoing for yourself, so you don’t have to hire someone like me when you are overwhelmed. Here’s how... Undo item #1 In your space right now, you likely have 5-10 one-minute tasks that will undo the tension that comes with the burden of too much stuff being around and being too busy. Look around, I’ll wait… Does the mail need sorting? Does that broken toy need to be tossed, batteries replaced? Start a donate bag and add to it daily for a month to undo the excess. Can you go through one drawer and pull out what you know can be tossed/donated and nothing else for 1 minute? Go ahead, set a timer! Answer that one email that’s nagging you. That top shelf in the hall closet, find 2-3 things that can be moved on. Your tasks may look totally different, but you get my drift. Everyday spend some time tackling those tasks that literally take one-minute and undo them, roll them back to when they were not on your mind, nagging your anxiety, and get them off of that dreaded “To Do” list. Be a rebel! Undo item #2 I like to shop, and Costco is truly my second home. Don’t @me with your Sam’s membership because then we can’t be friends. When I come across a new treasure at Costco or anywhere that I think I must have, I make myself imagine the exact spot it will go in our home. No place for it, no purchase. If it has a place, I ask myself, how many times will I actually use it this month? This year? For it to come home, it must have a place, and a purpose. If I don’t think I’ll use it monthly (I’m looking at you waffle iron, Vitamix, and Himalayan salt lamp) it’s not a purchase to be made. Undo your clutter right at the source. Talk yourself through a few things to be sure it has a place in your home, has a purpose, and will enhance your life. Otherwise you are looking at money wasted, and time spent later trying to find it a new home with someone else or worse, sending it to a landfill. Undo item #3 The most common thing I hear about cluttered spaces is, “I’m so overwhelmed I don’t know where to start.” I will tell you where to start… the bathroom and laundry room. These spaces rarely have anything that is sentimental to slow you down, they are small, therefore relatively quick, and you can use the momentum from those areas to carry into other more important areas. Group like items together, all the lotions, make up, hair accessories, etc. Keep them together in bins by category. Toss anything expired or unusable. Always make 4 piles, a trash pile, a keep in this room pile, move to another room pile, and donate pile. Shelters and foster families can often use unopened toiletries, laundry soaps, etc. or make Kind bags (example below) with those items and pass out to homeless. Use drawer organizers and bins to put things back nicely and maintain it! Undo your clutter in these two spaces and carry it on to a bigger project later.
Undo item #4 I cannot stress enough how important it is to have the right tools to stay organized. Those junk drawers in your kitchen, nightstand, and desk, need drawer organizers. These are game changers worth their cost because they undo a whole lot of frustration, save you time, and money. When you clearly store and can see everything you won’t re-buy unnecessary items. A big rule of thumb, once something is full (shelf, drawer, cabinet) you cannot buy anything else for that category. Don’t even think about it!  A Lazy Susan is a great addition to your medicine cabinets, under sink cabinets, refrigerator, office and pantry. Find one that can be tossed in the dishwasher when needed. Use a partitioned one to store kids’ snacks, medicines, office supplies, and toiletries. You likely spend a lot of time in your kitchen. Shelf risers in your cupboards can save you headaches with your dishes. Undershelf baskets are a dream to store those top-heavy water bottles laying down. Over the door systems by Elfa can work for anything from wrapping paper storage to entry way drop everything station, to pantry. They are very customizable and almost always on sale in January and February!
Undo item #5 Paper clutter is my nemesis. File cabinets are my kryptonite. While I love doing paper clutter for clients, I am always shocked at what people keep. Families tend to have a lot of their kids’ artwork, school papers, report cards, and projects saved for way too long. There are apps like Keepy that store photos of all those wonderful creations in a timeline for you to look back at later. You can also comment and share with friends and family.  For the love of baby Jesus, undo your adult paper clutter. There are many programs that work securely to scan and store documents online, so you only need to host the bare minimum in your home. Some great options are OneDrive, Google Docs, and Drop Box. Here’s some practical but tough love advice for your relationship with your file cabinet {insert side eye}… Keep forever:
If you made it this far, thank you for reading my blog post! I hope you found some useful information to help undo what stresses your spaces, your minds, and brings back that spark of JOY! Get that Undo List started and watch your mind go from clutter to clarity right along with your spaces in just a few minutes a day.
Trump’s Last Day in Office |
 | Rob Rob is a blogger and pod caster of Bois & Bar Talk a He typically loves to talk about gaming, sports, music, and all kinds of current events. He tries to learn something new about the world and himself everyday! |
“Economic Uncertainty and Stimulus Checks: Why Stimulus Checks Don’t Fix the Rising Rate of Poverty and Mental Health Concerns in the Midst of a Pandemic”
The purpose of this blog is to allow the audience to think critically and seek a deeper understanding on complex societal issues that impact the diverse communities in which we live, are employed, socialize, and engage in social justice and lasting change. It will be a platform where data-driven information, opinion, and current events intersect and create space for conversations wherever you may find yourself as the reader. As the inaugural post, and with so much going on in just the first month of a new year, it is both valuable and recommended to make room for the conversations included in this post as well as the ones that will follow.
“Every human society must justify its inequalities: unless reasons for them are found, the whole political and social edifice stands in danger of collapse. Every epoch therefore develops a range of contradictory discourses and ideologies for the purpose of legitimizing the inequality that already exists or that people believe should exist. From these discourses emerge certain economic, social, and political rules, which people then use to make sense of the ambient social structure. Out of the clash of contradictory discourses—a clash that is at once economic, social, and political—comes a dominant narrative or narratives, which bolster the existing inequality regime” (Capital and Ideology, Piketty, 2020).
Inequality, dominant narratives, racial tension, capital takeovers, presidential changes, police brutality, mental health crises, poverty and economic disparities, stimulus checks, and more mark prominent headlines and realities for millions of Americans during this pandemic. Most of these topics have historically been unfortunate realities for the American people, however this past 10 months has elevated mental health concerns, rates of poverty, and forced many to take a step back and look at the bigger picture: What do we do about it all?
As we approach nearly a year of living in the midst of global pandemic, it is important to take note and prepare for the impending consequences and impact of such a detrimental time in history. We can look at the pandemic through many lens’, however this publication will review the economic impact and mental health concerns related to the rise of unemployment due to COVID-19, social isolation, stay at home orders, and unemployment rates rising. It will also discuss the stimulus checks, data-driven reporting on the benefits of the stimulus through the CARES Act, and social service perspective as helplines across the nation have received record-breaking call volumes since last March.
Let’s talk first about poverty and cost of living in the United States. We can first take a look at the current federal poverty guidelines classified by the Census Bureau. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE Office defines two different versions of poverty measurement: poverty threshold and poverty guidelines. Poverty threshold can be clearly defined on the Census Bureau’s website. Poverty guidelines include household income on an annual basis. As of last year, the poverty guidelines on a state-basis (excludes Alaska and Hawaii) are as follows: 1 Person = $12,760, 2 Persons = $17,240, 3 Persons = $21, 720, 4 Persons = $26,200, 5 Persons = $30,680, 6 Persons = $35,160, 7 Persons = $39,640, 8 Persons = $44, 120, 9+ Persons = Add an additional $4,480 for each person. It is important to note that the creation of the 2020 poverty guidelines are measured by the 2019 calendar year which was due for submission in September of 2020.
Now that we have established the current poverty guidelines, it is important to look also at household incomes and cost of living. The median household income in 2019 was $68,703 in 2019 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Average cost of living in the United States varies greatly on a state-by-state basis, for instance Arkansas’ living wage is $44, 571 (second –lowest on index in the country) and The District of Columbia’ living wage is $67,867 (second-highest on the index in the country). That is a difference of over $20,000, a significant amount for the average American. Additionally, this can vary greatly in impact based on the number of individuals in each household. This data also does not navigate or discuss the unpredictable costs accrued for individuals and families over the course of a year that can include, but are not limited to medical expenses, illness, unemployment, mental health treatment, and any other cost that reaches beyond “basic needs.”
In order to link the above facts with current research findings on relief funding, we will need to look at reports that have been completed in recent months to determine if they have been positive or negative in alleviating risks of increased poverty. Research done on the impact of the stimulus through the CARES Act shows a variety of positive factors that the CARES Act, stimulus and unemployment insurances have provided to individuals, families and businesses during this time. “To ensure that the government can track the income changes of the American population overall and by demographic group to target and calibrate its fiscal response most effectively requires timely information on income and poverty. Unfortunately, official estimates of income and poverty for 2020 will not be available until September of 2021. These official statistics will be of little use to federal, state, and local policymakers who need to decide quickly how to allocate scarce resources to minimize COVID-19’s impact on vulnerable populations” (Han, 2020, pg. 1) Further, “In the poverty rate, calculated each month by comparing family incomes for the past twelve months to the official poverty thresholds, fell by 1.5 percentage points from 10.9 percent in the months leading up to the pandemic (January and February) to 9.4 percent in the three most recent months (April, May, and June). This decline in poverty occurred despite that fact that employment rates fell by 14 percent in April—the largest one month decline on record” (p. 2).
To conclude this conversation, it is important to look at this issue of economic decline and overall social decline as it relates to mental health and well-being. As a social worker and mental health practitioner, it is both alarming and cause for concern, hearing about the rise of national helpline calls during the pandemic. From suicide prevention to domestic violence and sexual assault, to child abuse tips, it has become clear to professionals in the social service field, that we are going to see an increase in mental health concerns and needs until we find a balance in economic decline and are able to stabilize the negative impacts of social isolation.
The unfortunate reality we see as social workers is this: The stimulus check has not made a dent in meeting the needs of individuals and families experiencing poverty, domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and homelessness. $1200 (a person) and $600 (a person) if one qualified and received the funds, does not cover the cost of living listed above or any emergency needs that may have been present in the last 10 months. And more than just financially, no amount of money can relieve the risks that men, women, and children have experienced being forced into social isolation, some of whom live with an abuser(s).
We have seen through news and other media outlets that self-care and other methods for relieving mental stressors have also not been fully effective in combating the stressors that this pandemic has exacerbated on individuals, families, communities, and the nation. So how do we plan? How do we fix these issues that have the potential to cause years of challenges? How do we support one another in an effort to seek social justice and change, while also caring for our own needs? The answers to these questions are anything but simple. However, with new funding periods coming and an increase in grant funding all over the country, programs that meet diverse needs are able to finance case management and therapy, housing relief, homelessness prevention, court and legal advocacy, utility assistance, domestic violence and abuse intervention, and more.
It will take time, continued effort and initiative, and collaboration. In many ways, the impact of the pandemic is still extremely unpredictable, however as reports are published, it is the hope of professionals in all fields, that solutions can be created that minimize the impact of this last year and course-correct the ways in which this year has challenged everyone.
“Every human society must justify its inequalities: unless reasons for them are found, the whole political and social edifice stands in danger of collapse. Every epoch therefore develops a range of contradictory discourses and ideologies for the purpose of legitimizing the inequality that already exists or that people believe should exist. From these discourses emerge certain economic, social, and political rules, which people then use to make sense of the ambient social structure. Out of the clash of contradictory discourses—a clash that is at once economic, social, and political—comes a dominant narrative or narratives, which bolster the existing inequality regime” (Capital and Ideology, Piketty, 2020).
Inequality, dominant narratives, racial tension, capital takeovers, presidential changes, police brutality, mental health crises, poverty and economic disparities, stimulus checks, and more mark prominent headlines and realities for millions of Americans during this pandemic. Most of these topics have historically been unfortunate realities for the American people, however this past 10 months has elevated mental health concerns, rates of poverty, and forced many to take a step back and look at the bigger picture: What do we do about it all?
As we approach nearly a year of living in the midst of global pandemic, it is important to take note and prepare for the impending consequences and impact of such a detrimental time in history. We can look at the pandemic through many lens’, however this publication will review the economic impact and mental health concerns related to the rise of unemployment due to COVID-19, social isolation, stay at home orders, and unemployment rates rising. It will also discuss the stimulus checks, data-driven reporting on the benefits of the stimulus through the CARES Act, and social service perspective as helplines across the nation have received record-breaking call volumes since last March.
Let’s talk first about poverty and cost of living in the United States. We can first take a look at the current federal poverty guidelines classified by the Census Bureau. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE Office defines two different versions of poverty measurement: poverty threshold and poverty guidelines. Poverty threshold can be clearly defined on the Census Bureau’s website. Poverty guidelines include household income on an annual basis. As of last year, the poverty guidelines on a state-basis (excludes Alaska and Hawaii) are as follows: 1 Person = $12,760, 2 Persons = $17,240, 3 Persons = $21, 720, 4 Persons = $26,200, 5 Persons = $30,680, 6 Persons = $35,160, 7 Persons = $39,640, 8 Persons = $44, 120, 9+ Persons = Add an additional $4,480 for each person. It is important to note that the creation of the 2020 poverty guidelines are measured by the 2019 calendar year which was due for submission in September of 2020.
Now that we have established the current poverty guidelines, it is important to look also at household incomes and cost of living. The median household income in 2019 was $68,703 in 2019 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Average cost of living in the United States varies greatly on a state-by-state basis, for instance Arkansas’ living wage is $44, 571 (second –lowest on index in the country) and The District of Columbia’ living wage is $67,867 (second-highest on the index in the country). That is a difference of over $20,000, a significant amount for the average American. Additionally, this can vary greatly in impact based on the number of individuals in each household. This data also does not navigate or discuss the unpredictable costs accrued for individuals and families over the course of a year that can include, but are not limited to medical expenses, illness, unemployment, mental health treatment, and any other cost that reaches beyond “basic needs.”
In order to link the above facts with current research findings on relief funding, we will need to look at reports that have been completed in recent months to determine if they have been positive or negative in alleviating risks of increased poverty. Research done on the impact of the stimulus through the CARES Act shows a variety of positive factors that the CARES Act, stimulus and unemployment insurances have provided to individuals, families and businesses during this time. “To ensure that the government can track the income changes of the American population overall and by demographic group to target and calibrate its fiscal response most effectively requires timely information on income and poverty. Unfortunately, official estimates of income and poverty for 2020 will not be available until September of 2021. These official statistics will be of little use to federal, state, and local policymakers who need to decide quickly how to allocate scarce resources to minimize COVID-19’s impact on vulnerable populations” (Han, 2020, pg. 1) Further, “In the poverty rate, calculated each month by comparing family incomes for the past twelve months to the official poverty thresholds, fell by 1.5 percentage points from 10.9 percent in the months leading up to the pandemic (January and February) to 9.4 percent in the three most recent months (April, May, and June). This decline in poverty occurred despite that fact that employment rates fell by 14 percent in April—the largest one month decline on record” (p. 2).
To conclude this conversation, it is important to look at this issue of economic decline and overall social decline as it relates to mental health and well-being. As a social worker and mental health practitioner, it is both alarming and cause for concern, hearing about the rise of national helpline calls during the pandemic. From suicide prevention to domestic violence and sexual assault, to child abuse tips, it has become clear to professionals in the social service field, that we are going to see an increase in mental health concerns and needs until we find a balance in economic decline and are able to stabilize the negative impacts of social isolation.
The unfortunate reality we see as social workers is this: The stimulus check has not made a dent in meeting the needs of individuals and families experiencing poverty, domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and homelessness. $1200 (a person) and $600 (a person) if one qualified and received the funds, does not cover the cost of living listed above or any emergency needs that may have been present in the last 10 months. And more than just financially, no amount of money can relieve the risks that men, women, and children have experienced being forced into social isolation, some of whom live with an abuser(s).
We have seen through news and other media outlets that self-care and other methods for relieving mental stressors have also not been fully effective in combating the stressors that this pandemic has exacerbated on individuals, families, communities, and the nation. So how do we plan? How do we fix these issues that have the potential to cause years of challenges? How do we support one another in an effort to seek social justice and change, while also caring for our own needs? The answers to these questions are anything but simple. However, with new funding periods coming and an increase in grant funding all over the country, programs that meet diverse needs are able to finance case management and therapy, housing relief, homelessness prevention, court and legal advocacy, utility assistance, domestic violence and abuse intervention, and more.
It will take time, continued effort and initiative, and collaboration. In many ways, the impact of the pandemic is still extremely unpredictable, however as reports are published, it is the hope of professionals in all fields, that solutions can be created that minimize the impact of this last year and course-correct the ways in which this year has challenged everyone.
 | Stephanie Shaull Community Educator with Helen's Project |
References and Resources
Han, J., Meyer, B., & Sullivan, J. X. (2020). Income and Poverty in the COVID-19 Pandemic. NBER working paper, (w27729)
Parolin, Z., Curran, M., Matsudaira, J., Waldfogel, J., & Wimer, C. (2020). Monthly Poverty Rates in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.
Cost of Living Index: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-index-by-state
CensusLink:https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-270.html
https://aspe.hhs.gov/2020-poverty-guidelines
Economic Impact Resource: https://www.epi.org/blog/over-13-million-more-people-would-be-in-poverty-without-unemployment-insurance-and-stimulus-payments-senate-republicans-are-blocking-legislation-proven-to-reduce-poverty/
Mental Health Journals: Alonzi, S., La Torre, A., & Silverstein, M. W. (2020). The psychological impact of preexisting mental and physical health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy.
Han, J., Meyer, B., & Sullivan, J. X. (2020). Income and Poverty in the COVID-19 Pandemic. NBER working paper, (w27729)
Parolin, Z., Curran, M., Matsudaira, J., Waldfogel, J., & Wimer, C. (2020). Monthly Poverty Rates in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.
Cost of Living Index: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-index-by-state
CensusLink:https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-270.html
https://aspe.hhs.gov/2020-poverty-guidelines
Economic Impact Resource: https://www.epi.org/blog/over-13-million-more-people-would-be-in-poverty-without-unemployment-insurance-and-stimulus-payments-senate-republicans-are-blocking-legislation-proven-to-reduce-poverty/
Mental Health Journals: Alonzi, S., La Torre, A., & Silverstein, M. W. (2020). The psychological impact of preexisting mental and physical health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy.
Archives
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
RSS Feed