More in need of therapy

Mental health clinics see surge in demand during pandemic.

Josh Spitalnick has seen his clinic almost triple in size in the past nine months. The licensed psychologist, the director of Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta, says his office has struggled to keep up with the growing number of patients.

It has been an unprecedented time for therapists, with mental health clinics across the metro area reporting a record number of new patients and returning patients.

“We have completely maxed out our availability and sadly, but not surprisingly, we’re almost at a point where we are wait-listing people who come in,” Spitalnick said.

The coronavirus pandemic, protests for racial justice and America’s divisive elections had already contributed to the growth of their practices, Spitalnick and two other Atlanta-area therapists recently told The Atlanta Journalconstitution. The recent riots at the U.S. Capitol, happening just two weeks before President Joe Biden’s inauguration, added to that stress.

Dr. Ikeranda Smith, a fellow therapist, is also scrambling to keep up with the demand.

“This year, if I could be absolutely honest, I am turning people away. I have seen an enormous influx, I get calls every day. I’m inundated,” Smith said.

“The election did a number on people. I am an unapologetically black queer woman, but my clients are white, Black, indigenous — they range from all ethnicities. But the reality of it is that everybody has been affected by it.”

Isolation caused by the pandemic also appears to be driving much of the demand for therapy. Spitalnick pointed out that even America’s children are having a “mental health crisis.”

“I’m watching families and kids at home crumble,” he said. “These kids and families are not getting enough touchpoints — educational, medical, financial, religious — it’s all happening in the home, and parents are not trained to deal with this.”

At the same time, parents are growing exhausted simultaneously working from home and teaching their kids, said Lily Scivicque, an Atlanta therapist and mother. The pandemic is also straining couples’ relationships.

“When you have new dynamics, and you have more time together, and you’re not used to talking things out, it really can become

On Friday, he’ll release the follow-up to “5:88” called “You’re Going to Be Fine,” which he recorded at Atlanta’s Triangle Sounds Studio with producers including Romano.

In a recent chat, 5AM talked about delaying his album because of the pandemic and the thrill of hearing that a major NBA star appreciates his music.

Your album, “You’re Going to Be Fine,” is arriving Friday. Was it always the plan to release it this year?

No, we finished it late 2019, around November. I planned to start everything early last year but then the pandemic hit. So we decided to wait until we could get everything out visually. You want give everybody the full experience.

What is the meaning behind the album title? It seems as if you’re trying to project optimism.

That’s pretty much what it is. This album is a ray of hope for me. I wanted to make sure my fans felt the same way. If you’re going through something or even if you feel good, you have to remind yourself (that you’re going to be fine). With everything going on in my life personally, being a first-time father, this is my first project that I can stay a little more busy with. And now with the pandemic and last summer with the police …I’m trying for one inspiring message a day now.

You’re referred to as a hybrid artist because you started as a producer before switching to singing. Where do you see yourself in the producer space now?

I wasn’t too fond of my voice, but I kept rapping to keep up the skills. I thought I’d focus on both but I wouldn’t mind being an artist over a producer at this point. (Producing is) always something that I can go back to.

You were born in a small town in Georgia, but Atlanta is where your music really took shape. What — and who — did you draw from here to find your sound?

For me, Atlanta really inspired my love for beats and my love for melody as well. Future, (Young) Thug — there’s a lot of melodic rap and I drew from all of that. Atlanta broke so many stars; you could pick an influence every day.

What was your reaction when (Brooklyn Nets star) Kevin Durant started talking about your music?

It was surreal. It was like,

“This person knows my music?” When I started to have a conversation with him (on Instagram) and he dissected the song, I realized he’s really a music fan. That was really cool.

What have you been listening to lately?

For the earlier part of the year, mostly my stuff; then the Lil Uzi (Vert) and Future project (“Pluto x Baby Pluto”) and Playboi Carti’s new record (“Whole Lotta Red”).

You got your first keyboard at 13 from your greatgrandmother. How supportive and influential was your family in your pursuit of music?

I had one aunt who used to be in a rock band when she was younger and I was always at her house when my mom had already moved to Atlanta. My older cousin was doing music and I was around it all day long. When I moved to Atlanta in second grade I thought about music every day. I recorded myself on a tape cassette. (My great-grandmother) passed away three years ago, but she got to see me make music.

What are your plans for the next few months?

I’m working on a short film — a horror movie that I’m reshooting — so that’s my main focus.