Resource Center

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has thrown us into a period of massive upheaval. A national survey from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) shows COVID-19 is seriously affecting Americans' mental health, with half of U.S. adults reporting high levels of anxiety. With so many circumstances out of our control, fear and anxiety can be overwhelming, leading to stress, emotional exhaustion and difficulty coping. The pandemic has also led to a collective sense of grief from our loss of normalcy, social connections and the world as we knew it. Although we know this is temporary, we anticipate that our lives will be different. Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of everyday life. However, unpredictable, uncontrolled stress increases the risk of vulnerability, and chronic stress can have a significant effect on physical and mental health.

This series of four half-hour podcasts will discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, including the neuroscience behind our reactions to stress. They will explore how we can apply today what we have learned from past crises. These podcasts are designed to help clinicians understand the feelings that they and others may be experiencing during this challenging time, as well as provide strategies for managing both current and long-term mental health needs resulting from this pandemic that can be employed to support both themselves and patients.