Disclaimer: This post is not a cry for help or a thinly veiled attempt to get anyone to reach out to me. I am fortunate enough to have many mental health and wellness outlets. I know what is going on, why, and how to get the care I need when I need it. I hope that I can rely on you to help correct what is now happening with the rise in COVID-related mental health issues. I hope that we, the people of God, will begin to be uncomfortable enough to get out of the box - church - and start actively and tangibly living our faith.
"Therefore, as you
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him."
Colossians 2:6
"Now faith, hope, and
love remain, and the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13
I am currently participating in a virtual women's Story Circle through my seminary (Nazarene Theological Seminary). At the beginning of each session, we introduce ourselves and describe our current day/emotion with one word. Last night, my word was lonely. There is a ton packed into that word, but the most significant reason centers around the theme of isolation, akin to what a soldier returning from war experiences. It is difficult to discuss something that happened with people who have no clue. It is not that they could not or would not be sympathetic. It is simply too tumultuous to effectively communicate what only a handful of people witnessed and experienced.
Folks, I am talking about the aftermath of COVID on frontline workers. I am talking about PTSD.
The "world" may be getting back to normal, but we here in the
hospitals are not. For one, we are still seeing COVID patients. Although the
numbers have significantly declined, they are still coming, still getting sick,
still dying. In the words of one of my favorite fictional characters, Cassie
Nightingale, "they are more than just bodies, you know?"
Today I learned that my little ole' hospital treated over 3,000 COVID patients. I forget how many died. Each one of them were/are more than just bodies, more than your political agendas or personal rights. Each person had a name, a family, a life worth living, a heart worth loving.
"Post-COVID" hospitals are seeing a dramatic increase of psychiatric patients coming for
treatment - suicide attempts are on the rise. We believe this is correlated
with COVID isolation - overwhelming loneliness, death of loved ones, loss of
employment/income/stability. Whatever trials they lived before were exacerbated
because of COVID. They have lost hope.
Front line workers everywhere are experiencing PTSD in record numbers. They lived and
worked through something they never imagined when they entered their chosen
field. Not only did they do it and do it well, but they had to do it while
dealing with the uninformed social and media hurtful and hate-filled propaganda.
YES! It is hatred when you speak so blatantly harsh about someone and
something you know nothing about. (Sorry - not sorry. This is one topic which
makes my blood boil.)
I have been thinking a lot about this issue this past week.
One - my church hosted a special podcast about mental health (Mental Health and the Church). It got me
reflecting on my own mental health as well as on what I am seeing and hearing
here at the hospital about the mental health of patients and staff.
Two - my hospital hosted a memorial for COVID victims, families, and staff
this past Wednesday. Watching it live on Facebook (especially Dr. Stupka's remarks)
stirred up several emotions. I cried with the memories and grew angry thinking
of all those inconsiderate social media posts over the past year+.
After my story group last night, I decided I had something I needed to get off my chest - a plea
I want to make from anyone who knows me and has the slightest respect for me; please
watch this video and consider my requests.
Dr. Stupka is one of my favorites. He is a great doctor and man of God. He
is the kind of doctor I would want if I had COVID. I learned the most from him
about COVID, what it does and how it is best treated. I also learned the mental
toll this disease was taking on the staff as well.
In this video (around 6:40), he shares a little of what we experienced
during the worst of COVID.
Request 1:
Please reconsider posting negative commentary about COVID. Whether you think this is
a hoax, political ploy, whatever. Stop. Just stop. Please. Just because you did
not see or experience this for yourself does not mean it isn't real. Think
about the holocaust. Think about Vietnam. Both were very much politicalized,
but both were just as real and traumatizing for those involved. Is it
disrespectful and hurtful for survivors to undermine their experiences by
reducing COVID to politics or agendas? Of course! SO, PLEASE, STOP IT.
Request 2:
Adopt a frontline worker. Do you know someone who worked directly with COVID
patients? More than just doctors and nurses worked directly with them.
Housekeepers still had to go into the rooms to clean and sanitize the rooms.
Food services still had to deliver meals to those who could eat. Maintenance
still had to go into rooms for repairs. They, too, put their lives on the line for the sake of the overall goal - because they, too, believe in our mission - serving humanity to honor God.
If someone worked directly with COVID patients, chances are, they could be
dealing with PTSD. Worse still, they may not even realize this could be what is
causing their shift in mood, health, and/or behavior.
If they do not have anyone to talk with, they need someone. Be that
someone.
Be bold and brave enough to ask them about their experience.
If they want to dismiss it because they were not nurses or doctors, don't
let them. They mattered. They still put their lives on the line. Their
experience - their thoughts and emotions matter. Tell them as much.
If they want to talk, let them. Do not correct or interject. Simply LISTEN.
We often ignore the greatest gift of love we can give someone - time and
attention - the ministry of presence.
If they do not want to talk, respect that. Let them know you are there should they change their mind.
(FYI, if you post political or personal rights stuff on
social media as it relates to COVID, chances are, that person will not open up
to you because you have already broken their trust. Chances are, they are angry
with you no matter how much they love you. They are angry and hurt because you
indirectly injured them.)
You may encourage them to seek therapy or join a support group. The
hospitals have support groups for frontline workers who worked during COVID.
Volunteer to go with them if they are scared. Show them how to be brave by
being brave yourself.
Request 2:
If you know anyone who is alone, lonely, who has lost a loved one this past
year (whether to COVID or not), lost a job, or is hurting in any way, reach
out. Invite them into your lives, especially if they are single, with no family, or
estranged from family.
Invite them to dinner at your house with your family.
Take them on an outing with your family.
Do your kids have a ball game or
dance recital? Invite them. Make them a part of your family.
Ask them to share their joys, hurts, and fears. AND LISTEN - no agenda - no
judgment.
You have no idea how great of an impact such simple acts of love, compassion, and kindness can make in someone's life.
You may very well be saving a life.
This song truly fits the post-COVID mental illness crisis.
"And everything is not the
same now
It feels like all our lives have changed
Maybe when I'm older, it'll all calm down
But it's killin' me now.
What if you had it all
But nobody to call?
Maybe then you'd know me."
-Justin Bieber
Let’s take the time to
get to know someone before we decide to judge them. Let's take that statement
one step further. How about we let go of judgment altogether and simply love?
As my friend, Tracy, once said, Jesus never made His love conditional. Neither
should we.
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