Local behavioral heath organizations are teaming up to provide a shoulder to lean on for locals who are having a hard time dealing with the mental pressures of COVID-19. 

In order to meet the needs of the community, 17 local groups around Lee and Collier counties have partnered to launch a new initiative called “Healthy Minds.”

Healthy Minds will offer educational events and complimentary screenings and provide accessible, convenient tips and resources at no cost for adults who are experiencing new or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, substance use and other issues; from financial strain due to changes in employment to the demand of juggling jobs while homeschooling young children.

“The need for mental health support is greater than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our families, livelihoods and communities, yet data has shown that nearly half of Florida adults with an unmet need for mental health treatment are deterred from seeking care because of cost,” said Dr. Paul Simeone, vice president and medical director of behavioral health at Lee Health. “The Healthy Minds initiative was created to help address this urgent need for support, providing access to mental health providers in an affordable and friendly setting to connect people to the resources they need and the care they deserve.”

Simone reviewed a study conducted by the Well Being Trust (a national foundation dedicated to advancing a vision of a nation where everyone is well in mental, social and spiritual health) that projected an additional 75,000 to 150,000 deaths solely looking at unemployment and the stresses and strains put on people’s mental and physical health. 

Simone worries that the mental health issues that correlate with COVID-19 are only going to increase as the country continues to battle the virus. 

“The pandemic is not slowing down, it’s actually likely to increase with the upcoming flu season,” Simeone said. 

 Left with an unsettling feeling after diving into the study, Simeone called a few colleagues and inquired on what they could do locally to lend a helping hand. 

Simeone and SalusCare Florida President and CEO Stacey Cook complied a list of local groups who they feel could provide assistance. The pair held meetings, talked through issues and came up with service ideas that have culminated into what is now called “Healthy Minds; community resources for resilience, support and well-being.”

“We decided we would try to address this at the local level,” Simeone said. 

According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40% of U.S. citizens are now reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression, 13% said they have started on increased use of substances and 11% have reported they have seriously considered suicide. 

“And these statistics are generally underreported,” Simeone said. “This is what people are telling us, but I guarantee you they are underestimates.

“Suicide rates are up considerably as is domestic violence and opiate overdoses.”

Healthy Minds aims to provide residents with a safe, cost-free way to sit with industry professionals and seek coping strategies to stressors and other issues brought about about due to poor mental health. 

“The goal is to set up these public events wherein people will be screened using a patient stress questionnaire that is (used) for depression/anxiety and abuse of any substances.” Simeone said. “If you just want to talk somebody, that’s fine, too. We’ve developed scripts for any possibility we could imagine. It’s warm and inviting — not judgmental, not intrusive.”

The United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties will also conduct follow-ups a week later to check in on residents if they wish. 

Volunteer organizations will either be in attendance live or virtually, and will be broken down into different categories for residents to navigate. 

Simone, a clinical psychologist by training, said many “senior” members are involved to deal with any situation that arises. 

“We want people there to help manage whatever we surface,” Simeone said. “The goal is really to help people who are really struggling with all of these symptoms secondary to unemployment, difficulties managing kids at home, substance use — the data suggests there is a huge need out there.”

Simone said a mobile crisis unit would be on hand, too, in case any immediate action is needed. 

“We’re hoping to reach out and not just offer services, but to let people know that we care about them, we want to help, we’re community partners with them and we’re hoping that people reach out,” Simeone said. 

Jeannine Joy, president and CEO of United Way Lee, Hendry Glades and Okeechobee, said their 211 program that provides free information and referral to human/social service agencies within the county has been non-stop since the beginning of the pandemic. Through United Way 211, clients can call and receive information and referrals appropriate to their needs. Joy said United Way Lee has already surpassed the number of calls it had received all of last year and that through August, had taken more than 35,000 calls (there 32,000-plus calls in 2019). 

“We have all of these residents with needs and questions about COVID and our resource specialists are absolutely hearing the stress in everyone’s voice,” Joy said. “What they’re not saying to us most of the time is how this is affecting their mental well-being. We know this is having an effect — unfortunately, it’s not something that people are used to talking about in our community. What we’re really hoping is that this collaboration with all of these partners will help bring this to light and allow people to ask for the help that they need and recognize that they should ask for help as well because it is an extremely stressful situation.”

Joy realizes the stigma surrounding mental health — that many people are self-conscious about seeking assistance. 

“A lot of the time, people are afraid to ask for help, whether it’s financial or mental well-being,” she said. 

Simone said oftentimes people aren’t as “plugged in” to how they’re feeling as they should be, which, in turn, can result in problems.

“There is a fair amount of denial or disassociation with people and their mental and physical well-being,” Simone said. “It’s not a criticism, it’s just the way our psychological defenses operate. It’s OK to admit this, and there’s no shame in asking for help.”

Simone said it’s not just coronavirus that has tensions rising. 

“I cannot remember a time that has been as stressful in the period that we’re living in — not just because of COVID-19 but because of what is going on in our culture more broadly,” Simone said. “All of these variables coalesce to produce what I think are unusually high ambient levels of stress and anxiety, which is why all of these symptoms are showing up. And I think when you have high levels of ambient stress, people begin to habituate to those so that they don’t recognize them quite as readily. We all get used to a level of fatigue and we can talk about it from time to time, but we quietly adapt and there is a way in which people stop responding to it which worries me greatly.”

United Way’s 211 call center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year and confidential.  

“People can feel secure when they call us,” Joy said. 

Dates and locations for those seeking assistance include: 

* Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 to 11 a.m., Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library, 4820 Leonard St., Cape Coral

* Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 to 11 a.m., Lehigh Community Services, 201 Plaza Drive, Lehigh Acres

* Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 to 11 a.m., Bonita Springs Assistance Office, 25300 Bernwood Drive, Unit 6, Bonita Springs

No advance registration is necessary. Those interested in resources or a free screening can simply show up to the venue at the designated date and time and speak to an expert who will then help link individuals with local service providers and share information about the community resources available. A Healthy Minds Resilience Toolkit, which offers additional tips for navigating life’s twists and turns, will be handed out to all guests at the events. The toolkits – available in English, Spanish and Creole – are also available for download at www.HealthyLee.com/HealthyMinds. 

Healthy Minds initiative is pioneered by several community organizations including members of the Healthy Lee Behavioral Health Coalition, which includes David Lawrence Center, Elite DNA Therapy Services, Florida Gulf Coast University, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Healthcare Network, Healthy Lee, Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, Lee Health, Park Royal, SalusCare, United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties, and Valerie’s House. Additional community partners include Better Together, Kimmie’s Recovery Zone, National Alliance on Mental Illness, NCH Healthcare System and The School District of Lee County.

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj