GPS Responds to COVID-19 Crisis
Join us in bringing GPS to your community and help us address the mental health crisis caused by COVID-19
Just because the pandemic is slowing down, doesn’t mean the mental health crisis is over.
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We may be in a different phase of the pandemic but that does not mean that the enormous damage it did has subsided. Many of us are now living with loss, hardship, poverty, lack of housing or food insecurity. Many of us are still facing uncertainty, lack access to vaccines or are in communities or have loved ones who are not vaccinated, and are dealing with the mental health crisis caused by the long isolation necessary during the pandemic. It’s been hard to be brave alone and many of us are still suffering. Join us in bringing support groups to all of those who are struggling during this difficult time. Together we can help people rise to the challenges of the moment with as much resilience as possible.
We know that although physical distancing was an essential public health response to COVID-19 , it created the conditions in which mental health and traumatic experiences were able to escalate. The overarching fear and stress of being surrounded by the danger of COVID-19 was exacerbated by loss of jobs, death of loved ones, health concerns, frontline work, parenting and social isolation and the pressures and difficulties of meeting basic needs.
People with pre-existing mental health issues spiraled into crisis and while we are hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is over, there is still not an adequate safety net to care for those who suffered with mental health challenges. Relapse of substance use and opioid death, domestic violence, child abuse, suicide attempts, maternal suicide and infanticide have all dramatically increased due to COVID-19. We know that being isolated during only made it harder. We know that today people are still worried, upset, grieving, and heartbroken. We know that all of our lives have changed dramatically. None of this has been easy.
GPS is committed to ensuring that during the Covid-19 Pandemic and its aftermath that every person who needs support is able to get it.
GPS COVID-19 EMERGENCY SUPPORT PROGRAM
One of the most important things we can do for people during the COVID-19 Crisis is connect with others and receive much needed support. Support groups can fill essential gaps in mental health support now, and in the foreseeable future. That’s why we need to provide support for people. NOW.
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Online support groups overcome systemic barriers to care; people can access them from their own homes eliminating barriers such as cost, waiting lists, stigma and lack of the access to culturally responsive groups.
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Rather than one in-person support group available in a community, online support groups can be accessed regardless of location, therefore increasing access to diverse populations, based on issue (perinatal mothers, addiction and recovery) as well as demographic, language, culture, gender identification and age.
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Online support groups can be facilitated by diverse leaders, therefore making them more accessible to traditionally underserved and vulnerable populations.