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KMAland 2021 A Salute to KMAland Healthcare Heroes 19
Struggling with Mental Health during COVID?
There’s help out there
(Des Moines) - The
continuing coronavirus
pandemic is impacting
KMAland residents in
more ways than one.
n addition to the medical “If a person finds that they’re to socialize since May or March.
threats posed by COVID- having trouble concentrating,” But, people are also isolated in
I19, there’s also the psy- she said, “their minds jumping their homes. So, we’ve done a lot
chological and emotional stress around more than usual, they’re of fun activities, and tried to find
that can come from isolation, eating less than they usually do, things to help people break some
quarantining or a lack of human or more, having trouble sleeping- of that social isolation.”
interaction. State officials are those are just some basic things Those activities include book
attempting to address those issues that we all go through from time clubs on social media, a handwrit-
through the COVID Recovery to time. But, if they’re lasting for ten pen pal program, chat bud-
Iowa program. Karen Hyatt is the more than a week, or impacting dies and other methods. Anyone
program’s state manager, and an your ability to do the things you seeking assistance may access the
emotional mental health special- need to do during the day, those COVID Recovery Iowa website.
ist with the Iowa Department of are sure signs of stress a person’s “There’s a contact sheet on
Human Services. Hyatt says grant going through.” the website,” she said. “A person
money awarded by FEMA helped Hyatt says economic hard- can fill that out, and request to
create the program last year. ships are another issue creating speak to somebody for personal
“The purpose of the grant is coronavirus-related issues. She support, or any number of things,
to offer free support counseling, says many parents also face the and send that in to us. There’s also
referral information, and guidance dubious task of coordinating their three hotline numbers listed at
to people as they try to navigate child’s remote learning activi- the top of our COVID Recovery
their way through a very unusual ties, and worrying about their Iowa website that a person can
situation,” said Hyatt. “We want employment status at the same call, either speak with someone
to help normalize as much as we time. Social isolation caused by right then on the phone, or ask to
can what’s going on, and really COVID-related quarantines pose speak to a counselor.”
just provide that basic mental another challenge. There’s also the program’s
health support that people might “It’s a lonely time for a lot of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and
not normally need.” people who are unable to see their YouTube accounts listed under
Hyatt says the program is friends and family,” said Hyatt. COVID Recovery Iowa. A 24/7
open to anyone showing signs of “We know that there are nurs- hotline is available by calling
mental health issues associated ing homes or facilities that have 1-844-775-WARM.
with COVID-19. been in their rooms, and not able