American Heart Association News: Looking for Ways to Protect Against Pandemic PTSD
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Experts warn of a mental health pandemic after this first wave of COVID-19, which could include people experiencing problems such as PTSD, depression and anxiety.
American Heart Association News: Looking for Ways to Protect Against Pandemic PTSD
TUESDAY, June 2, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- As many places start to look forward to life after the first wave of the coronavirus, another type of illness could be about to follow in its wake.
"We're going to have many more mental health issues as time goes on," said Dr. Rima Styra, a psychiatrist at Toronto's University Health Network and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. "And people will refer to it as a mental health pandemic."
U.S. crisis centers already report being flooded with calls. The Well Being Trust, a foundation that focuses on mental health issues, predicts the pandemic could cause 75,000 "deaths of despair" from suicide or addiction.