COVID-19 impacts go beyond the physical

The physical symptoms of COVID-19 infections range from nothing to fatal, with most who get the virus somewhere in between. But how many in Nome and on the Seward Peninsula are suffering emotionally because of the way the pandemic has curtailed normal social life? How are the young people supposed to deal with the loss of their friends and the fun things they do with each other?

Barrett Hesson at NSHC’s Behavioral Health clinic sees increased frustration and substance abuse. “Of course we have such a high rate as far as alcohol and marijuana use it’s hard to identify a significant change,” he said. “But we are seeing increases.” Thoughts of suicide are also up, according to Hesson, in both adults and young people. The numbers of actual attempts at suicide have not risen, but more people are having self-destructive thoughts.

What about the impact on otherwise healthy people to stay upbeat and healthy despite the restrictions in social activity? “When the restrictions started to increase the kids were probably more affected than the adults because they were so used to gathering and socializing and doing things together,” said Hesson. “Whether it was through athletics at the school or at a park. When those things were taken away, we definitely started to see an increase in problematic behavior in homes. Not just in Nome but in the outer villages as well.”

Hesson strongly recommends that people utilize Behavioral Health Services even if they can’t appear in person. Telephonic support is available and he believes it can be a big help. He suggests to maintain contact with family and friends on a regular basis. By finding activities you enjoy with family members who live with you, one can replace those social contacts which are no longer there because of the COVID, he said. “Replace those lost activities with things you can do at home,” he said. Going outside as a family group can be helpful. Snow machining, tom cod fishing and skiing are things families can do together. “Things I miss here in Nome are like the carnival they have for Halloween, the get-togethers like that where it’s fun to interact. I wish that we here in town would learn to do some of this stuff virtually so that everybody feels connected. I think those things are very important,” he said.

He gave as an example a Supreme Court ruling that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo could not put limits on gatherings in churches, synagogues and other houses of worship to 10 or 25 worshipers in hard-hit COVID regions. The Supreme Court with a new conservative majority argued that it would violate the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause.

. “I feel that’s wonderful because I feel like church is a tremendous spiritual support. I think that’s a big blessing for people in this region as well. Any kind of connectivity is good as long as it doesn’t include alcohol and drug use,” he said.

“Try to find things people can do on a daily basis where they are still part of the community and feel that support,” said Hesson.