CitiesSpeak: COVID Exacerbates Loss of Hope, Solution in Leading Causes of Life

Mental health, substance use, stress and deaths of despair are all on the rise in cities throughout the country. As COVID-19 and the racism pandemics have interrupted life in so many ways, associated impacts are everywhere. From job loss and fear for loved ones working on the front lines, to parents stretched to juggle work and children at home, isolation is keeping friends and family apart. These are just a few examples of the stress, uncertainty and trauma affecting each of us in different ways. For those who were on the brink before the crisis, their worst fears have been realized.  The result? People experiencing higher rates of mental health issues and not knowing where to turn. According to a new report from the Well Being Trust, ‘’deaths of despair have been on the rise for the last decade, and in the context of COVID-19, deaths of despair should be seen as the epidemic within the pandemic.”
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