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Students and healthcare workers afflicted w/ COVID-19 share mental health tips
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Throughout the country, health professionals and college students reveal ways they are combating the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health.
According to the CDC, younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported worse mental health, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.
CDC suggests some healthy ways to cope with stress. By Molly Gundry
As illustrated in the infographic, the CDC suggests coping strategies with stress and mental health during the pandemic, such as connecting with others and taking time to unwind. Healthcare workers and students across the country, who have previously had the virus, point to ways that helped them cope during the quarantine.
Health care workers
Debra Aplis, 53, a nurse at a Texas memory care facility, experienced some rough symptoms but ultimately recovered well from the virus.
Aplis said throughout this pandemic, she experienced depression, mood changes and anxiety.
However, Aplis found new ways to distract her from the global pandemic and the effect on her mental health. Aplis said she began music therapy, reading and watching music videos on YouTube. After recovering from COVID-19, Aplis donated her plasma for use by those battling COVID-19.
College students
A Vanderbilt University freshman, Anastasia Franchak, 19, said she spent her entire quarantine in her room.
Franchak is from Johns Creek, Georgia, outside of Atlanta.