Soon, we
will be entering month ten of Covid-19 (or later depending on when you are reading this).
Although there are very promising
reports on the vaccine front,
a “return to normal” – meaning hugging friends, shaking hands, not wearing
masks, going to theaters – isn’t expected until summer of 2021 at the earliest.
If that seems far off to you, it’s an eternity in the mind of a teenager, and
the consequences of Covid-19 safety protocols, especially the lack of
socialization, can be – and is – especially hard on them.
The attendant everyday
pandemic chaos can make it hard to notice warning signs, and remedying them on
your lonesome can be tricky. The mental health professionals at Discovery Moodand Anxiety Program offer
some helpful tips to recognize and effectively deal with a teen whose mental
health is compromised by Covid-19.
Friends of
mine with teenage kids have shared the particular effects this unprecedented worldwide
health – and for many, economic – crisis is having on this specific age group.
A few report their children seem remarkably okay, and happy with more screen
time, less socialization, and less exercise, but they are the minority (and
frankly, I find their assessments hard to believe). Most are indeed concerned
about mental health issues exacerbated as we head into the shorter days, longer
nights, dropping temperatures, and rising numbers of infections. It’s becoming
more normal to hear about kids withdrawing, lashing out, sleeping more, or
sleeping less. What may seem like “ordinary teenage moodiness” may in fact be a
red flag.
As the
folks at Discovery Mood and Anxiety Program put it, “Even if your teen has
never experienced any mental illness symptoms before the pandemic, it’s
important to learn the warning signs. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses develop by
age 14 and 75% develop by age 24.
Quarantine can be an incubator for mental
illness. Factors like isolation, a lack of physical activity,
hypervigilance of proper health precautions, and constant reminders of
mortality via news reports can all contribute to the deprecation of mental
health.
Pay attention to unhealthy patterns. If you see patterns where your teen isolates himself and shows increased symptoms of
irritability, perhaps it’s a good idea to have a conversation with them, or at
least give an open invitation to talk.
The
Discovery Mood and Anxiety program does not have offices in the mid-Hudson
Valley, but they offer free
consultations at 714-828-0808, and
telemedicine. They also offer online group meetings that are free for you to
join. Check out https://discoverymood.com/groups/
Even if you don’t feel the need to get professional help, it’s definitely
a good idea to connect with your teen as best you can. Check in, and by all
means let them know that no matter what is happening regarding Covid-19, you’re
there for them, and if need be, you’ll get others to be there for them, too.
READ MORE: Mental health tips for COVID-era teens
There are many mental health support services available to you and your
family.
Where can you get tested for Covid-19 or
Covid-19 antibodies?
There are many different tests including
diagnostic testing to detect if you have the virus and antibody testing for
those who have had a positive test for Covid-19 and have recovered.
Below is a list of COVID-19 Testing Sites in
four counties in the mid-Hudson Valley including Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and
Sullivan Counties plus a link to the NYS Department of Health information
section on Covid-19 testing.
There are several different types of tests
available.
Diagnostic Testing
Currently, there are two types of diagnostic
tests which detect the virus – molecular tests, such as
RT-PCR tests, that detect the virus’s genetic material,
and antigen tests that detect specific proteins on the
surface of the virus. To decide which test is
right for you, read more about the different kinds of tests
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Antibody Testing
Some sites are now offering COVID-19 antibody
testing for those who have had a positive test result or think they may have
had COVID-19 and recovered.
PLEASE NOTE: Antibodies can take several days or weeks to
develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several
weeks or more after recovery. Because of this, antibody tests
should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection. At this time
researchers do not know if the presence of antibodies means that you are immune
to the coronavirus in the future. Read more from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Listings of testing sites in four mid-Hudson
Valley counties
Dutchess County
https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Collection-Sites-for-Testing-in-Dutchess-County.htm
Orange County
https://www.orangecountygov.com/DocumentCenter/View/17040/Testing-Locations?bidId=
Ulster County
https://covid19.ulstercountyny.gov/get-tested/
Sullivan County
https://www.sullivanny.us//sites/default/files/departments/PHS/COVID-19%20current%20testing%20site%20list%20as%20of%20%204%2015%2020%20posted%204.16.pdf
NYS Department of Health explains types of
tests, offers guidance, explains contact tracing and gives links for more
information
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing
Offers a complete overview on testing, what is
being tested and how
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you
type in your address or just zip code to find
testing locations near you.