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Attachment B <br />The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people's <br />mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance <br />use disorders. During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety <br />or depressive disorder, a share that has been.largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported <br />these symptoms from January to June 2019. A Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found that many <br />adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty <br />sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening <br />chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. As the pandemic wears on, <br />ongoing and necessary public health measures expose many people to experiencing situations linked to <br />poor mental health outcomes, such as isolation and job loss. <br />As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Americans are required to stay isolated to protect themselves and <br />their communities. However, the home may not be safe for many families who experience domestic <br />violence, which may include both intimate partners and children. COVID-19 has caused major economic <br />devastation, disconnected many from community resources and support systems, and created <br />widespread uncertainty and panic. Such conditions may stimulate violence in families where it didn't <br />exist before and worsen situations in homes where mistreatment and violence has been a problem. <br />Violence in the home has'an overall cost to society, leading to potentially adverse physical and mental <br />health outcomes, including a higher risk of chronic disease, substance use, depression, post-traumatic <br />stress disorder, and risky sexual- behaviors. There is a concern that the numbers experiencing violence <br />will dramatically rise in as a result of social distancing and quarantine during COVID-19. <br />Children are specifically vulnerable to abuse during COVID-19. Research shows that increased stress <br />levels among parents is often a major predictor of physical abuse and neglect of children. Stressed <br />parents may be more likely to respond to their children's anxious behaviors or demands in aggressive or <br />abusive ways. The support systems that many at -risk parents rely on, such as extended family; child care <br />and schools, religious groups and other community organizations, are no longer available in many areas. <br />Child protection agencies'are experiencing strained resources with fewer workers available, making <br />them unable to conduct home visits in areas. Since children are not going to school, teachers and school <br />counselors are unable to witness the signs of abuse and report to the proper authorities. Also, many at - <br />risk families may not have access to the technology children needed to stay connected with friends and <br />extended family. <br />Mental Health: <br />• Mental Health Literacy and Marketing- $180,000 ($60,000/year) <br />o Mental Health First Aid Instructor training and manuals to train 1,200 community <br />members per year. <br />o Engage a marketing firm to initiate public awareness campaign on mental health topics <br />while highlighting local community providers. <br />• Supporting Residents and Clinicians- $240,000 <br />o Supporting our Long -Term Care Facilities with therapist to provide individual and group <br />therapy to residents and caregivers $27,000 per year x3 years. <br />4.14.21 UWIRC <br />