COVID-19 – MORE THAN JUST A VIRUS!
January 24, 2022
As we continue living through the various strains of Covid-19, it has become apparent that there are a lot of people struggling with everyday life. There’s no doubt that people are stressed. Stressed by relationships with partners, family, and friends, while having financial and employment concerns and concerns about just everyday living. There have been many repercussions from the virus, but one of the major effects people are experiencing is depression. A recent article in the January 13 – 19, 2022 edition of The Epoch Times by Jennifer Margulis titled Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression states; “According to Health Canada, approximately 11 percent of men and 16 percent of women in Canada will experience major depression in their lives. While depression was a problem before the global panic about Covid-19, there’s no question that it has gotten worse since. Isolation and loneliness, which have both risen drastically during the pandemic, lead to depression, as do financial difficulties, lack of employment, dealing with loved ones being ill, and death.”
Margulis goes on to write; “Prescriptions for antidepressants have been rising since the beginning of the pandemic according to Dr. Stephanie Collier, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Reports of domestic violence have also increased, and more young people than ever before have been feeling suicidal, attempting suicide, or taking their lives.”
Life for many currently is not getting easier. Many phone-in and online helplines have been created by governments at all levels, including federal, state, provincial, county, and even town levels. Getting help today does not have the same stigma that it had even five years ago. If you or someone you know are having feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, reach out to them! Changes in habits and mood are signs that someone is not their usual selves. Go online to research the resources that are available in your area.
One good idea to consider is putting the Here I Am app on your or your loved one’s phone. With the Here I Am App on your or their phone, in the event you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, with the click of a button on their phone they can reach out to people who can provide help. One of the benefits of the app is that in the event of an emergency, the persons’ exact GPS coordinates are provided letting responders know whether they’re near water or on a bridge for example.
As with all emergencies, timing is critical. With the Here I Am App on your phone, help is just a click away. To discover more about the Here I Am app, visit: www.hereiamapp.com
Here I Am App is available for purchase on Google Play and the Apple App Store for USD$1.99.
Paul Taalman
Paul Taalman is the creator of the Here I Am app.