While there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Butler County, those without the infection can still feel the impact of it. Local mental health officials are encouraging people to practice self-care and seek help if needed during the outbreak.
Maria Francisco, a license clinical social worker, said she normally stresses the eight dimensions of wellness, but that becomes more difficult during this time. These eight dimensions include emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational and social. Francisco has given presentations to first responders about mental health and discussed many of the same topics during a meeting Wednesday at the Emergency Response Center.
With social distancing rules and businesses restricting access, some of those dimensions become more challenging.
“It involves physical activity, getting out and about, and interacting with others,” Francisco said. “But we can still do those things.”
Francisco mentioned that videos on sites such as YouTube cover some at-home exercises people can do to keep themselves moving while at home.
She stressed the importance of developing a wellness toolbox whether people are in the office or at home. This toolbox can include things such as eating three healthy meals a day, drinking plenty of water, getting to bed early, taking important medications and vitamins, and writing in a journal.
However, a toolbox should be personal and include things each person finds relaxing.
“Sometimes when we’re going through crisis or trauma situations, we tend to internalize that,” she said. “Have somebody that you can count on.”
Additionally, she advised people to take breaks when feeling overwhelmed and find ways to disconnect from what’s going on.
“Remember to do something you enjoy,” Francisco said. “Especially for the first responders and those on the frontline.”
For those who are leaving the house for work, Francisco brought up planning and preparing for that with loved ones. This is especially important for those with families at home responsibilities they may be taken away from during this time. She mentioned developing a back-up plan in case something changes.
Amber Richardson, PhD psychologist with Missouri Highlands Health Care, echoed many of Francisco’s statements.
“When there’s a disaster like a flood or earthquake, there’s typically a plan in place and an end where you can see how it’s going to pan out,” Richardson said. “With this, we don’t really know ... We don’t really know how long this is going to continue. It could be weeks, it could be months. With uncertainty, that breeds fear and stress. Trying to limit that is paramount.”
She advised that some people use risk-taking behavior to cope with fear.
“A lot of the people you see out in the community and still social gathering, it’s not necessarily that they don’t care, but it’s a way of coping with that fear. It’s them saying, ‘If I go out and pretend I’m not scared of this thing then I’m not,’ but they actually really are,” she said.
Richardson said she’s recently been thinking about the theme of time and also encouraged people to focus on today and what they need today rather than a week from now as a way to cope with that fear.
“That’s why we see panic buying ... people are thinking about what they need weeks from now or months,” she said. “Rather than them focusing on what they need later, have them focus on today, ‘Do I have toilet paper today? Yes. Might I need toilet paper tomorrow and not have it? Yes, but I can deal with that on that day.’”
People frequently hear they need to plan for the worst, but in situations like this, Richardson said, it’s better to focus on the present.
“We’ve got to give people time here,” she said. “We have to give labs time to get results back. We’ve got to give time to the doctors and nurses who are dealing with situations and are on the frontlines. As citizens, we have to give them time. We’ve got to give time to the scientists who are working on a treatment for this. We’ve got to give time to the state and local officials to deal with this unique situation they’ve never had to deal with before and to wrap their heads around it.”
She said people should use this as an opportunity rather than a restriction by doing the things they’ve been saying they want to. Things like spending time with family or working on home projects.
“You have to stay home so use it in a productive way to do the things you’ve said you want to do,” Richardson said.
Seeking help
For those struggling and need help, local resources are available.
Richardson said Missouri Highlands Health Care is implementing telehealthcare as much as possible.
Telehealthcare, or telemedicine, simply means using the phone or video calls for appointments. Richardson said patients can come to the clinic if they need to — due to unreliable internet service or other reasons at home. There, they are able to use telemedicine equipment for appointments.
“It is Zoom conferencing from the provider’s home to the patient’s home,” Richardson said.
She said they are currently accepting new patients and most are able to get a same-day appointment by calling one of the clinics. The Poplar Bluff clinic can be reached at 573-785-6536. There’s also clinics in Naylor, Doniphan, Van Buren, Piedmont, Viburnum, Eminence, Pilot Knob, Ellington and Annapolis.
“I know a lot of people might be dealing with stress or anxiety or other mental health care needs that weren’t an issue two weeks ago. It’s just come up because of this crisis alone,” Richardson said.
Francisco, who has a private practice, relayed information from some of the other area clinics.
She said FCC Behavioral Health is continuing operations, but has made some adjustments to “provide the safest possible care,” according to information provided by CEO Randy Ray.
The residential facilities are open and operating, but are restricting visitor access.
The outpatient facilities are also open, but utilizing telemedicine as much as possible. Anybody physically entering the building is being screened in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center and youth programs are utilizing telemedicine.
Information is available at fccinc.org or by calling 573-686-1200. Those who need to reach the crisis team can call 1-800-356-5395.
The Veterans Affairs mental health is also transitioning to video contact appointments, similar to the telemedicine other organizations are practicing, Francisco said based on information from Sharon Sorrell with the VA. Phone clinics are being set up for high-risk veterans and those who have recently canceled appointments.
The VA is working on contracts with area providers in the event they become necessary.
All substance abuse individual and group services are being offered through video appointments.
The VA crisis hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.
Kneibert Clinic, Francisco said, is still seeing patients, but is looking into more telehealth. Patients are screened and temperature taken if necessary.
Francisco said her office is operating telehealth as much as possible and only conducting face-to-face appointments if “absolutely necessary.” Appointments can be made by calling 573-778-9185.