The Coronavirus pandemic is a difficult time for everyone, especially for those who had to live under new circumstances. We were all placed under a new level of stress and worry and had little to no way of seeking help for destressing. According to the CDC study, they found out that during June 2021, 40.9% of the 5,470 participants reported an adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. These numbers are higher in poorer communities as they lacked resources and did not have access to the same resources. Many celebrities and millionaires had the luxury of having pools and big yards to go out to, some even rented private islands. All activities which someone from the poor side of new york would not be able to participate in. Covid was more difficult on those less fortunate, where the rich were able to get rapid tests every day to continue with their everyday life, we were at home fighting over toilet paper. Although all the events I talked about seem irrational at another time, it makes perfect sense to those who had to be locked in a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 young siblings. The coronavirus is a big stressor for many, as there was a loss of jobs, kids aren’t going to school, and many local shops and restaurants were closing. When the human brain is introduced to something it does not know how to work around yet, it causes emotions that lead to anxiety and depression which can become a long-term illness for some. It is now important that we create resources

Mental health in many cultures is considered made up and often dismissed. This often leads to a gap of communication between an individual with mental illness and someone without. (see image to the left ) Only five percent of people are very comfortable talking about their mental health. Can you imagine not being able to speak with your family about a topic as important as your mental health? If physical health had all the negative stigmas attached to it as mental health does, there would not be such a big gap. It is hard for people that do not believe in mental health to see that there is a connection between physical health and mental health. 

Physical and mental health are interconnected, possibly even interchangeable. People that have a problem with their physical appearance often develop a mental illness. For example, an individual who has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder starts to hate their physical appearance and begins to stop caring for their health. But it can also happen the other way around: an individual who has just been diagnosed with a physical illness because of depression. The loop becomes never-ending at one point. It is important to care for your body and mind to reach a truly healthy self.