Officials prepare for mental health breakdown.

South Florida mental health counselors and law enforcement leaders are preparing for an intense burst of calls related to mental health emergencies.

While businesses call COVID-19’s effects an economic tsunami, experts fear the repercussions also will include a mental health meltdown unlike anything the country has ever experienced.

Seniors have lost retirement savings. People in multiple sectors have lost jobs and income. Domestic violence and child abuse have escalated. And bosses have grappled with heart-wrenching decisions about closing businesses permanently.

Calls to the 211 helpline in Broward County related to mental health increased 118% from March to April and suicide-related calls increased 86%. Law enforcement officials also see an increase in mental health-related calls to 911 between March 1 and April 22 — the time when the new coronavirus began to spread in Florida, and many businesses and schools closed — compared to the same time period last year.

“Because of the gravity of the economic losses and the level of uncertainty, on the other end of this we likely will see the biggest surge in demand for mental health and addiction services in American history,” said Steven

Ronik, chief executive officer of Henderson Behavioral Health in Lauderdale Lakes. “We are working to make sure South Florida’s behavioral health system is funded and well prepared.”

Ronik said people of all ages are becoming despondent. “It’s very important for family and friends to reach out to their people,” he said. Virtual support groups and workshops are available.

Suicide a real threat

Jackie Rosen, executive director/CEO of the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention, said her organization has increased its outreach in the last few weeks and sends ongoing emails with positive messaging to its database of 5,000 people. She also is personally making calls to get people into virtual support groups.

“For everyone who already has a mental illness, this stress is increasing the problem, making them more susceptible to suicide,” Rosen said. “We know people are on the edge, and once they get out of isolation and have to deal with finances and not getting a job and other things, the situation will get a lot worse.”

At the 211 call center, employees are fielding COVID-19-related depression and anxiety calls that trickle down from worries over financial and basic needs. They offer callers resources, hope, and if necessary, suicide prevention referrals.

“Everyone who calls has a different stressor they are coping with,” said Frank Isaza, chief operating officer for the 211 helpline. “A lot of people are experiencing a lot of different types of loss. “There is a lack of

understanding of how much pressure and anxiety and stress people are under. We have to make sure they are told about ways to stay resilient.”

Isaza anticipates the calls for help to continue to increase throughout the year. “What are people going to do when the time comes to get back to regular life, and regular life is not regular anymore?”

Behavioral health experts fear that Florida’s already-stretched social services network will be further tested by the demand for help in response to fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. Melanie Brown-Woofter, executive director of the Florida Behavioral Health organization, wants Florida to get a share of $38.5 billion in federal emergency relief funds to continue community mental health and addiction treatment services, ramp up telehealth services, allow for overtime pay, and meet demand. The funding awaits federal approval.

“Our concern is everything is simmering,” she said.

Already, Brown-Woofter sees an increased demand for mental health services by phone or video and believes challenging times are ahead. “We expect to see transient depression and other anxiety that lingers for at least a year.”

Law enforcement concerned

In Central Florida, suicides were trending down in 2020 before the pandemic hit, according to data from the Orange County Medical Examiner’s office. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said he is focusing on prevention over the next few months.

“There is anxiety with self-isolation,” Mina said. “I think the biggest thing is not knowing what’s next, when things are going to

get better, and what will everything look like once it does get better.”

Mina said his agency plans to expand its crisis intervention training to more deputies. The agency also plans “to embed” counselors with deputies when they respond to a call of attempted suicide.

The idea, he said, is to bring more resources to the people who need them and “deescalate the situation.”

In Lake County, the Sheriff’s Office has posted on social media, including Facebook, urging residents to seek help with a link to Lifestream Behavioral Center.

“We’ve placed a greater emphasis on mental health issues,” Herrell said.

Dr. Juan Rivera, an author, cardiologist and medical expert for Univision, said mental health issues can manifest into physical health concerns, and such physical conditions as chest pain actually can be anxiety. He urges the local Hispanic community, often reluctant to seek help, to reach out to their primarycare doctors.

“That is the healthcare professional who knows the patient best and can be an important lifeline,” Rivera said.

Resources

Here’s where you can get help:

Contact the United Way’s 2-1-1 crisis call line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mental Health America of Southeast Florida offers group support for anxiety and depression via Skype five days a week as well as a referral line at 954-746-2055. The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Henderson Behavioral Health offers telehealth, inperson mental health counseling and mobile response units. Call 954-463-0911.

Peer Support Space, a local grass-roots nonprofit led by people in recovery for mental health and substance abuse challenges, has support groups that are meeting virtually during the stay-at-home mandate and other resources. Go to peersupportspace.org/ covid-response.

National Alliance on Mental Illness – Broward has an information helpline open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 954-316-9907. The organization also has begun offering online support groups.

To make an appointment for behavioral health services with Chrysalis Health call 888-587-0335 or Smith Community Mental Health call 954-675-6520

For the national Disaster Distress Helpline, available 24-7, call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.)

For the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24-7, call 1-800-273-8255. For the Floridian Initiative for Suicide Prevention call 954-384-0344.

In Fort Lauderdale, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings continue through Zoom and welcome newcomers. “Lots of people are paralyzed with fear right now and this is the kind of stuff that will drive you deeper and deeper into substance abuse,” said Marlene, a facilitator for the Fort Lauderdale group that meets every morning. “The majority of the sharing is positive and uplifting,” she said. To join a group contact aabroward.org.