submitted by Covered California
Departamento de Comunicaciones en Español
- Anxiety and feelings of fear are some of the emotions that can be heightened during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
- Many Latinos are already experiencing depression and other mental health problems due to the pandemic.
- Experts give us recommendations to improve the mental health of Latinos.
- If you need medical care, this is the time to enroll in a health plan through Covered California.
The end of the year parties, in addition to being characterized by tamales, posadas and music, can be described as a time of depression and anxiety for thousands. One of the communities most affected by COVID-19, Latinos, present pictures of sadness and feelings of stress, since mental health has deteriorated during the pandemic.
Californians like many around the world have had drastic changes in their lives since the pandemic began 20 months ago affecting the mind and body. Latinos have experienced stress, anxiety, depression, fear symptoms, not being able to sleep, perhaps due to the loss of a family member or loved one due to the virus, or due to a job loss.
Dr. Sandra Pisano, Director of Mental Health at ALTAMED in Los Angeles, says that, “the reactions we have are normal, but we also have the ability to improve our situation and set realistic goals to improve our lives. For this reason, I urge that whoever needs a counselor or psychologist, consult him without any penalty, we all need help.”
Experts recommend that when a loved one or friend begins with depression or anxiety, it is important to have the support of a psychologist or a therapist to see if he will not need medicine. The psychologist can support you with techniques to help you manage the situation. However, if these techniques are not enough, it is recommended that, apart from counseling, consult a psychiatrist to obtain the appropriate medical treatment for that person.
For this reason, Covered California spokesperson Patricia Izquierdo states that it is important to have health insurance, “If you enroll in a health plan, we have more than 32,000 mental health providers in individual Covered California networks. Which means that you will have access to the care you need if you are experiencing depression or anxiety.”
The registration process takes a few minutes and you need to have the answer to five questions. What is your immigration status? Your zip code? Your age? How many dependents do you declare on your taxes? and family income. Then a certified Covered California agent can tell the person what plans are in their area, how much they would pay each month, and if they qualify for financial assistance.
There are many services available to people with health coverage. According to Dr. Pisano, when a person has private health insurance, they can talk to their health plan and receive help from a counselor or a psychiatrist, depending on the case. “All services are available in Spanish.”
Unfortunately, during the holiday season, many suffer from depression and need help. For Dr. Sandra, “when a person is isolated for a long time that can cause the person to increase symptoms of depression, feel sad, feel lonely, so it is important to maintain a routine of self-care and self-compassion. That is, to stay in contact with loved ones and family virtually and also, to practice activities that make the person and the family happy. Permanent communication between couples and with their children is of the utmost importance.”
But if a family member is drinking a lot of alcohol and having thoughts of suicide, or is depressed or violent, they should be listened to, nonjudgmental, and seek help with health insurance resources. “With the family we must take these situations seriously, you never know when a loved one decides to do something that can be tragic, often under the influence of drugs. Sometimes they are very impulsive and can hurt themselves or other people. That is why it is better to seek professional help”.
For Patricia Izquierdo, “the best thing is to contact us and register before Dec. 31 to be able to take the care that is needed. In addition, if you do not have health insurance by 2022, you will have to pay a penalty of $800 per person, $400 per child and on average for a family of four, $ 2400. We don’t want anyone to have to go through the stress of paying a fine, it is better to enroll in a health plan. ”
For additional information you can contact Monday through Friday from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-863-1706.
