Social Isolation, Community and Culture in the Wake of the COVID-19 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Social Isolation, Community and Culture in the Wake of the COVID-19 Crisis

Presented by: Monica Garfield, MA L MF T R N A djunct T rainer, T he R elational Center Penny T immons, MA L MF T Clinical T rainer and Supervisor, T he R elational Center

One Minute Social One Minute Social Mindfulness Mindfulness Exercise Exercise

Social Isolation & L oneliness

Social Isolation Social Isolation Social Isolation is the absence of social contact. It isn’t the same as loneliness, but it can lead to loneliness.

“ The subjective feeling that you're lacking What is the social connections you need. ” (Murthy, 2020) L oneliness?

3 in 5 3 in 5 Three in five Americans reported feeling lonely according to a 2020 report on Loneliness in the Workplace by Cigna. (Cigna, 2020) The 2018 Cigna report also found that young people were more likely than older people to report loneliness. (Cigna, 2018)

Isolation Has Isolation Has Increased Due To: Increased Due To: ● Individualism ● Cult of Busyness ● Lack of Access to Nature and Public Spaces and Gathering Spots ● Culture of Fear (media) ● Lack of Empathy ● Competition/Scarcity Thinking ● Single Person Households

● Cognitive Impairment ● Depression “ Isolation is correlated with death at ● A nxiety the same rate as smoking 15 cigarettes ● Dementia per day and is twice as deadly as ● Heart disease obesity. ” ( Murthy, 2020) ● E ating Disorders ● High Blood Pressure ● Obesity ● Increased Substance Use

The COVID -19 Pandemic

Isolation During Isolation During COVID COVID -19: 19: ● We are ALL Experiencing Some Form of Isolation -Clinicians are experiencing the dual nature of collective trauma and vicarious trauma (Shared Traumatic Experience). -We have a LIVED experience of how hard it is for those clients who were already isolated.

● Increased Intimate Partner V iolence/Child A buse ● Increased Depression/Suicidal Ideation ● Increased A nxiety Impacts of ● Quarantine F atigue/Quarantine F og Pandemic ● Death and Grief

Specific Impacts on Marginalized Communities

Counseling Implications & I nterventions

Do you have someone with whom you can discuss important issues? Assessment is Do you belong to a faith community, service organization or other group K ey of people who share your values? Do you regularly socialize, meet with Sample Questions friends, attend parties, club meetings or other social activities? Do you live alone?

● Individual Counseling A lone is Not E nough ● Mapping Social Connections ● Imagining and Storytelling R elated to Social Connections ● Social Meditations Interventions ● P rescribing groups, classes, and other social activity ● T aking A ction T ogether ● Mutual A id P rojects ● F ocus on B uilding R elational Skills in Individual W ork

Telehealth/Online Telehealth/Online Resources Resources ● Works Better for Some Clients ● Is Not the Same as In -Person Contact ● Zoom-Fatigue ● May Make Things More Accessible for Some Groups

Social Isolation was a Pandemic Prior to COV I D-19.

References Cigna U.S. L oneliness I ndex: Survey of 20,000 Americans E xamining Behaviors Driving L oneliness in the United States. (2018). R etrieved from https://www.cigna.com/assets/docs/newsroom/loneliness- survey-2018-fact-sheet.pdf. Cigna 2020 U.S. R eport: T o F urther E xplore the I mpact of L oneliness in Our Culture and in Our W orkplaces. (2020). R etrieved from https://www.cigna.com/about-us/newsroom/studies-and- reports/combatting-loneliness. Olds, J . and Schwartz, R . The Lonely American: Drifting Apart in the 21st Century (2009). Boston: Beacon P ress. Murthy, V H. Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World . (2020). New Y ork: Harper W ave. P utnam, R D. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community . (2001). New Y ork: Simon & Schuster P aperbacks.

Additional Resources Brooks, D. The Social Animal. (2001). New Y ork: R andom House. DJ ulio, B, Hamel L , Munana C, and Brodie M. (2018). Loneliness and Social Isolation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan: An International Survey . R etrieved from https://www.kff.org/other/report/loneliness-and-social-isolation-in-the-united-states-the-united- kingdom-and-japan-an-international-survey/. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Double Jeopardy: COVID -19 and Behavioral Health Disparities for Black and Latino Communities in the U.S . (Submitted by OBHE ) R etrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/covid19-behavioral-health-disparities-black- latino-communities.pdf. P anchal, N., K amal, R ., Orgera, K . et al., T he Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for- mental-health-and-substance-use/.

Thanks! Contact us: T he R elational Center www.relationalcenter.org penny@relationalcenter.org