I couldn't agree more with all of the action points listed here. I worry, that in responding first to the physical health crisis component of COVID we limit the size of the funding pot needed to support the second wave of this pandemic, the larger, looming mental health crisis.
Wonderful point, Heidi! Acute and long-term mental health concerns have been in many ways left by the wayside. Nowhere is this more evident than in the looming absence of mental health leadership consistently speaking up on behalf of the White House and COVID-19 response task force. If you look at the literature, other countries have found that without a mental health lead involved in their planning, the mental health response is disjointed and marred by resource waste and reduced effectiveness. See here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30073-0/fulltext
I couldn't agree more with all of the action points listed here. I worry, that in responding first to the physical health crisis component of COVID we limit the size of the funding pot needed to support the second wave of this pandemic, the larger, looming mental health crisis.
Wonderful point, Heidi! Acute and long-term mental health concerns have been in many ways left by the wayside. Nowhere is this more evident than in the looming absence of mental health leadership consistently speaking up on behalf of the White House and COVID-19 response task force. If you look at the literature, other countries have found that without a mental health lead involved in their planning, the mental health response is disjointed and marred by resource waste and reduced effectiveness. See here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30073-0/fulltext